FOX 5 Money: Bottled Water vs. The Tap

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bottled water costs almost 2,000 times more than tap water, but people continue to buy it.

"I'm not a big fan of tap water so I'd say I'd probably choose it over tap water, yes," said Nicole Kehlar.

"I thought it was cleaner," added Kevin Ford.

But is it? Two studies released at a Congressional hearing Tuesday-- one by the Government Accountability Office, the other by the Environmental Working Group-- suggest consumers may never know.

"Here's the reason," EWG's Jane Houlihan told the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "They enjoy a regulatory holiday under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act."

Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, which does not require companies to disclose sources, use certified labs, or report failures of water quality tests. The EPA mandates that public water systems do all of those, and more.

Jim Neustadt of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission says its customers can be assured their water is safe to drink.

"We test for dozens of things, elements, chemicals, even radiological materials and also bacteria," said Neustadt. "We test a whole realm of things and we do it every month."

The results are posted on WSSC's website and published in annual reports.

Two notable contaminants are not currently tested for at water bottling plants: e-coli, and DEHP, a chemical which softens plastic.

GAO's report noted that the chemical has been linked to reproductive problems, liver problems and increased cancer risk. But the International Bottled Water Association says DEHP is not among the three principal materials used to make plastic containers.


In addition, IBWA president Joseph Doss testified that members meet all of the safety requirements for food products. The organization, which represents about 80 percent of the market, urges members to include their phone numbers on labels so consumers can call with questions. It's a matter of choice, argued Doss.

"If a bottled water company does not provide them with the information they want, he or she can choose another brand of bottled water," said Doss.

FOX 5 found that people are paying more attention to the labels.
Perry Morgan said he stopped buying bottled water when he read the source label and discovered it contained 'Faucet water.'

"I don't think there's a big difference, I really don't," said Morgan.

And despite his wife Nicole's distaste for tap water, Blake Kehlar is a believer -- in the savings, and the environmental benefits.

"We are one of the few countries that actually have perfectly safe tap water, so, there's no reason not to drink it," he said.

The FDA has just passed a rule that requires testing of bottled water for e-coli and a zero-tolerance policy for the potentially deadly contaminant. It doesn't go into effect until December of this year.