Water Wise

Hennen, Leah. “Water Wise,” Real Simple 7, no. 3 (2006): 147-152.
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.mnsu.edu. (Accessed February 10th, 2011).

This article is in question-answer format, which makes it easy to navigate. Unlike some of the articles I have found it does not appear to be a huge proponent of tap water, although it does discuss that the US has some of the cleanest water in the world. It suggests that if one does drink bottled water that they drink a brand belonging to the International Bottled Water Association, as they have stricter standards about the water that they provide to consumers. This article focuses mainly on water in general and answers questions such as whether water can go bad, and how much is really needed per day. Under the section header “Is it safe?” Hennen reports that “9 out of 10 public water systems meet federal health and safety standards, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)” (Hennen 1). Hennen also reports that, according to Steven Patch, Ph.D., an authority of drinking water safety at the University of North Carolina, it is suggested that “you read the water-quality report that your utility is required by law to release each year. [As] large providers are also required to post their reports online” (Hennen 1). This also offers a section which explains the differences between what can be labeled mineral water, purified water, spring water, etc., which I expect that I will use. The list is as follows:

• Artesian water: From a welt that's fed by an underground aquifer. Examples: Fiji Natural Artesian Water, Voss Artesian Water.
• Enhanced water: Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and herbal ingredients, as well as added flavor. Example: Glacéau Vitaminwater.
• Fitness water: With added electrolytes and flavoring or sugar. Some contain caffeine or herbal stimulants, such as taurine and guarana. Example: Hansen's E20 Energy Water.
• Mineral water: From an underground source that contains naturally occurring dissolved solids, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Example: Calistoga Sparkling Mineral Water.
• Purified water: Usually tap water that has been treated to remove contaminants. Example: Sam's Choice Purified Drinking Water.
• Sparkling water: With natural or artificial effervescence. Examples: Pure LaCroix Sparkling Water, Schweppes Club Soda.
• Spring water: From an underground source that flows to the earth's surface naturally. Examples: Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water, Evian Natural Spring Water.

In general, a lot of the information presented in this source will not be applicable to my research project, except of course the aforementioned tidbits. However, it is very beneficial to have the bottled water “guide” if you will! There are also some other quotes concerning FDA tap water regulations that I expect I will use during the scope of my project.