UNITED  STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
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                                                                         EPA  570/P-91-053
  v/EPA
                     Bottled Water Fact Sheet
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                                         Background

         Unlike public water supplies which are regulated by the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
 bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Adniinistration (FDA) and is considered a "food.'' Bottled water
 is subject to the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), and if it is sold as a
 consumer commodity, is subject to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The FDA has also issued quality
 standards to assure the safety of bottled water.
                                   Bottled Water Standards

         The quality standards established by FDA for tap water established maximum allowable levels for
  microbiological, inorganic, organic, and radiological contaminants. Substances that affect the smell, color, and
  taste of water are also regulated because most consumers look for consistent aesthetic characteristics in bottled
  wa ter. The quality standards require that a bottled water product be labeled to provide notification whenever the
  quality of water is below standard.
                                           FDA Role

|         FDA requires that bottled water products be safe and dean, and that processing and distribu tion phases
|  be conducted under sanitary conditions. FDA's regulations require that all bottled waters, including mineral
I  water, be produced maccorxiaiTce with the FDA G^                       Honest and informative labeling
I  is guaranteed by the FPLA.
                                           EPA Role

         A 1978 Memorandum of Understanding between FDA and EPA requires FDA to adopt EPA's primary
  drinking water standards for tap water. To date, FDA has adopted 22 of EPA's 30 drinking water standards for
  bottled water and has proposed incorporating 7 of the 8 EPA Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) in their rule.
                                           State Role

         Since states must ensure that manufacturers meet Federal requirements and can adopt regulations ih.it
  arc stricter than FDA requirements, many states currently include testing for the 8 VOCs in. their bottled water
  regulations (e.g. California, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida). Please contact your state or FDA
  representative for more information on their programs.

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v/EPA     Bottled Water Fact Sheet
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                      Industry Role                      |
     The international Bottled Water Association has played an active role in helping to bridge the gap m the j
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 information at the following address: 113 North Henry Street, Alexandra, VA 223U.           ,

                    Need for Bottled Water




                The EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline


  and the Virgin Islands may reach the Hotline by dialing 1-8OM264791.

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