ABSTRACT
Americans, in growing numbers, are turning to bottled water to quench their thirst. Bottled water industry served about 15 billion glassfuls of water to more than 12 million consumers in every state of the Union. Bottled water also is used as an alternative source of drinking water when the safety of a community water supply is compromised by contaminants of natural or industrial origin. The industry distributes three generic types of bottled water, all of which must be derived from a protected source: natural water, mineral-free water, and fluoridated water. Consumer demand for water that looks clean and tastes good readily explains why bottled water sales are concentrated in geographic areas where the aesthetic quality of water is poor. Supply shortfalls, dropping water tables, and increased competition among users for available supplies can be expected to add challenging new dimensions to future safe drinking water programs.
