There exists a debate on the suitability of bottled and tap water. Numerous arguments are in place with each aiming to justify one over the other. However, what is indisputable is the apparent misunderstanding and the inability to determine and predict customers consumption patterns and trends accurately. The paper aims at providing an analytical viewpoint with regards to the subject. First, it examines some of the reasons leading to the exponential growth of the bottled water industry and factors contributing to the sustenance of the situation. There is also an examination of the two bodies, FDA and EPA, and their roles with regards to ensuring the safety of products. It is to establish their operation and regulatory framework aimed at providing quality services.
The subject gets examined in depth to facilitate an understanding and highlight the evident variations that distinguish the entities. There is also a consideration of the factors influencing clients’ options and decision-making abilities. Lastly, a conclusion results based on the findings which aim at resolving the main topic.
Bottled Vs Tap Water
Water is a crucial element of human life. Humans require about eight to twelve cups per day to facilitate standard body functioning such as breathing and sweating. For us to be healthy and ensure everything runs appropriately, we need to drink the right amount of water. However, there is a concern that arises on the appropriate type of water to drink. With regards to that, the most significant debate and controversy is on the appropriateness of either tap or bottled water. In our discussion, we would analyze the options and the factors that influence the selection and preference of either the two.
More popular than milk and beer, bottled water is the second most popular beverage in America second to soft drinks. The amount of bottled water getting consumed has consistently been on the rise thus contributing to the exponential growth of the industry. The sector that produces and markets the products presents a captivating study of US water policy, consumer psychology and our present relationship with water as the driving force promoting the demand for bottled water. Bottled and tap water gets regulated by diverse government institutions. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for the regulation of bottled water. On the other hand, tap water is under the management of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Simons, 2014).
Majority of Americans get water from publicly owned water and sewerage entities under the supervision of the state and federal government. Taxpayers money finances and funds public water supply and regulation but the public is suspicious of tap water. Due to the adverts and campaigns disapproving tap water, the bottled industry is the leading contributing factor of the public skepticism on tap water. According to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), it is apparent that the media campaigns significantly contribute to the explosion of bottled water sales. It is mainly as a result of the perceptions created by the advertising industry that bottled water is pure and safe in comparison to tap water.
In many developed nations, fear of tap water is due to reports of the violation of quality standards. Using the stance to their benefit, they advertise that bottled water covers up the mess and provides health benefits. Based on that, the public is thus ignorant on the actual quality of their municipal supply that is more thorough and comprehensive based on EPA’s regulatory framework as compared to FDA regulations of guidelines on bottled water.
In the year 2009, a report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that FDA does not have the particular statutory authority that requires them to use certified laboratories for water quality test (“United States Government Accountability Office,” 2009). Besides that, there were concerns about the lack of regulatory framework on certain chemicals that are likely to cause health impacts. During 1960, a series of studies were in place by the Public Health Service on drinking water in America. The realization of high contamination levels prompted that passing of legislation, Safe Drinking Water Act, to correct the situation. From the 19th
Century when the government began bearing responsibility for public health, the quality improved. Increasingly advanced technologies played a role in facilitating the efficiency that ensured enforceable water quality standards.
Municipal water passes many checkpoints before reaching the consumers. An example is compliance with the EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR). Moreover, there are also Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) set to ascertain the degree of quality. Despite the numerous regulations and improvements, there are persistent problems brought about by collective negligence and environmental challenges. A common perception is that bottled water is superior to tap water. However, the reality is that bottled water is subject to different and in most cases less comprehensive regulations than publicly supplied water (Raj, 2005). The regulatory variations are likely to be the leading cause of the existent distinction between bottled and tap water.
Evidence supporting the argument gets its basis in areas such as information on water quality, exemptions, sourcing information, testing and reporting. The categories widely vary and are used as similar aspects when trying to determine the reality of the appropriateness of bottled and tap water. An example of testing is that EPA requires independent labs to conduct bacterial contaminants assessment multiple times which is not compulsory under the FDA regulations (Lalumandier " Ayers, 2000). Also, the EPA needs to alert the public within 24 hours in case of an MCL violation while bottle water companies are not subject to the provision. An issue may result long after the products are sold and consumed.
From a compliance analysis on regulatory differences between EPA and FDA frameworks in various states, the findings were fascinating. In New York, it was established that out of the nineteen contaminants examined; there was a violation of one MCL. The analysis highlighted the bolded values that exceeded the MCLs. The overall findings indicated the vulnerability of water to contamination. In such circumstances, bottled water was crucial when the Public Water System (PWS) is unavailable or polluted. As a result of the FDA’s reporting and oversight standards, there is an issue of lack of reliable information about bottled water quality. Profit companies exploit the loophole to their benefit thus creating misinformation. In other instances, the firms intentionally discredit the PWS to win customers and increase sales.
The other factor contributing to the consumption of bottled water is dissatisfaction with tap water organoleptic which implies the characteristics of taste, sight and odor (Platikanov et al, 2013). In the context, the flavor seems to be the most common aspect. From a survey conducted, respondents identified organoleptic as the primary reasons for the consumption of bottled water. The situation seemed to vary across regions with America being the least affected. A study by Falahee and MacRae (1995), based on blind comparison suggests that mineral content also influenced the type of water consumed (Falahee " Mac Rae, 1995). Clients preferred water with high mineral content in contrast to that with low content.
Besides organoleptic, the other factor contributing to the increased consumption of bottled water is for health-related reasons (Doria, 2006). In a survey conducted in America, about half the consumers of bottled water attributed their shift to tap water risks. The situation has however progressively declined based on the measures in place. Nonetheless, the aspect is quite challenging to assess based on the variations and utility levels. Also, similar researches suggest that risk considerations are not a condition for consumer behavior. Aspects such as access to bottled water in term of price and convenience may influence consumption patterns. For specific clients, perceived health benefits may be minimal to justify the price variations and extra effort to carry a bottle. Additional factors include issues of trust and remembrance, substitute for other beverages plus other unspecified reasons.
In conclusion, more research is crucial to substantiate the findings. Improved knowledge of the factors can contribute to the use of drinking water and facilitation of consumer's behavior and patterns. In general, the consumption of water varies based on consumer preferences but an obvious observation is that tap water is significantly safe despite the negative perceptions. Nonetheless, what is of importance to the consumers is good quality water.
References
Doria, M. F. (2006). Bottled water versus tap water: understanding consumers' preferences. Journal of water and health, 4(2), 271-276.
Falahee, M., " MacRae, A. W. (1995). Consumer appraisal of drinking water: multidimensional scaling analysis. Food Quality and Preference, 6(4), 327-332.
Lalumandier, J. A., " Ayers, L. W. (2000). Fluoride and bacterial content of bottled water vs tap water. Archives of family medicine, 9(3), 246.
Platikanov, S., Garcia, V., Fonseca, I., Rullán, E., Devesa, R., " Tauler, R. (2013). Influence of minerals on the taste of bottled and tap water: A chemometric approach. Water research, 47(2), 693-704.
Raj, S. D. (2005). Bottled water: how safe is it? Water Environment Research, 77(7), 3013-3018.
Simons, C. (2014). Tap versus bottle: A mixed methods analysis of public water supply and the bottled water industry in the United States (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).
United States Government Accountability Office. (2009). Bottled water: FDA safety and consumer protections are often less stringent than comparable EPA protections for tap water. (No. GAO-09-610) http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09610.pdf
