If you’ve been following the news last week, you may have come across some stories about a recall of 14 different brands of bottled water due to possible E. coli contamination. Thankfully, there have been no reports of consumers getting ill from drinking the water so far, but this story provides further evidence that bottled water is just as susceptible to quality issues as tap water. Today we’re going to talk about why the bottled water has been recalled and what it says about the safety of bottled water in general.
Why are 14 brands of bottled water being recalled?
Niagra Bottling, a producer of bottled water based out of California, recently recalled 14 of its bottled water brands that were produced between June 10th and June 18th of this year. The reason for the recall is that evidence of E. coli was discovered in the spring that serves as the source of water for the company’s products.
The problem began when the operator of the springs that supply the water failed to report evidence of E. coli contamination to Niagra Bottling. The company was notified of the issue by the Department of Environmental Control and the Department of Agriculture, who performed quality checks on the springs that tested positive for the bacteria.
What are the health effects of E. coli?
E. coli can pose serious health risks to people who are exposed to it. Presence of E. coli indicates that water may be contaminated with bacteria found in human and animal waste. Symptoms of E. coli exposure include nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Some strains of the bacteria can even result in life-threatening illnesses.
Further evidence that bottled water is no safer than tap water
Although many bottled water companies claim that their products are healthier than tap water, this is often not the case. In fact, because bottled water is regulated by the FDA and not by the EPA, bottled water is tested less frequently than tap water and has less strict standards than those imposed on tap water.
As this story demonstrates, bottled water is susceptible to many of the same contamination problems as tap water: inadequate testing, improper treatment, insufficient regulation and more. There is no reason to believe that bottled water is any healthier than unfiltered tap water, and bottled water is also much more expensive and takes a huge toll on the environment.
The highest-quality water you can get is water that you filter at home with a water treatment system. A water filtration system can remove all of the contaminants that are not addressed by municipal treatment plants, including any traces of dangerous bacteria like E. coli.
If you have any questions about E. coli found in bottled water, or if you’d like a water system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your water softener and water filtration system dealer in North and South Carolina. We provide service all over the Carolinas, including towns like Matthews, Davidson and Kannapolis, NC.