FRequently asked questions

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Is bottled water regulated like other food and beverages?

Bottled water is a packaged food product comprehensively regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has established health-based standards of quality that are as stringent and protective of public health as those for public drinking water administered by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Failure to meet those standards can result in enforcement action by FDA or recall of the bottled water product from the marketplace.

How much water should a person drink each day?

As with most everything there is no standard answer or amount perfect for everyone. In 2004 The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) published a report that concluded for adequate daily intake of water for men is just slightly over 125 ounces and for women that amount is slightly over 91 ounces. Since that report those amounts have been cut in half by various health officials. Today most people regard the rule of thumb as 8 eight ounce glasses of water per day, regardless of adult age or sex. About a half gallon per day. Another good practice is to not wait until you feel thirsty to consume water. That means you are already dehydrated.

How often is bottled water tested for contamination?

Bottled water facilities test multiple times per day and in conformance with their respective EPA and FDA regulatory requirements for minimum test frequencies. Bottled water is tested for total coliform bacteria at least twice as often as tap water. In some cases, bottled water is tested up to 36 times more often than tap water on a gallon-for-gallon basis.

Is most bottled water just tap water in a bottle?

It is important to note that purified bottled water is not just tap water in a bottle. Once the municipal source water enters the bottled water plant several processes are employed to ensure that it meets the purified or sterile standard of the U.S. Pharmacopeia 23rd Revision. These treatments can include ozonation, reverse osmosis, distillation, or de-ionization. The finished water product is then placed in a bottle under sanitary conditions and sold to the consumer.

How many steps of filtration does Dakota Splash utilize?

Dakota Splash implements a six step filtration process. Learn more here: https://dakotasplash.com/filtration

What about recycling of water containers?

All bottled water containers are 100% recyclable whether plastic or glass. Data derived from EPA figures demonstrates that plastic water bottles make up less than one-third of one percent of the U.S. waste stream

• PET plastics are 100% recyclable
• More than 90% of U.S. households have access to curbside and drop off recycling programs
• Of all the plastics produced in the United States, PET plastic bottled water packaging makes up only 0.92% -- less than one percent
• Producing new products from rPET uses two-thirds less energy than required to make products from raw virgin materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Recycled plastic bottles can be made into new bottles or items such as plastic lumber for outdoor decking, playground equipment, carpeting, clothing, and car parts
• Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for up to six hours
• Learn more about recycling here: http://putitinthebin.org/ 

Is it true that bottled water isn’t as regulated as tap water?

By federal law, the FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water must be as stringent as the EPA regulations which govern tap water. To suggest in any way that bottled water is less stringently regulated than tap water is simply not true. Learn more here: https://bottledwater.org/

Does the bottled water industry take water from people in other parts of the world who need it?

About 98.5% of all bottled water sold in the United States is sourced domestically.  The existence of a bottled water industry in the United States has no impact on the availability of drinking water in, or the public service infrastructure of, any other country. Learn more about bottled water here: https://hydratethestates.org/ 

How is it best to store bottled water?

Bottled water and other beverages are packaged in sanitary and highly protective, sealed plastic containers that maintain the quality and freshness of the product. However, plastic containers – whether used for bottled water or other beverages – are slightly permeable, which may allow ambient air gases such as vapors from household solvents, petroleum-based fuels and other chemicals, to affect the taste and odor of your beverage so it is recommended to store bottled water away from said items.

What is the shelf life of bottled water?

Currently no state requires an expiration date on bottled water. When water (bottled water or tap water) is exposed to extended periods of direct sunlight or heat sources, algae or mold may infrequently develop. But when stored in a cool, dry, unexposed place unopened, bottled water can last for years.