Bottled Water

Abstract

AbstractThe rising consumption in the United States is attributed to an increasingly effective advertising campaign that touts bottled water as a safer and better tasting alternative to tap water. Packaging labels that show massive glaciers and springs in alpine settings have also helpedThe presumed reason for drinking mineral water and more recently bottled water is for the purported therapeutic effects and associated health benefits. Using mineral waters as a form of therapy was discussed by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Based on legend, the thermal springs of Bath, England, date to 800B.C.Hannibal's army (and elephants) was reputed to have refreshed itself in the pools of Vergeze in southern France in 218B.C.while enroute to attack Rome. Later on, the spring waters at Vergeze became known as the source of Perrier water. The mineral waters from 12 springs at Vichy, France, date back to Roman times. Spring water from Fiuggi near Rome, Italy, was used by Michaelangelo. Another Italian luminary from the fifteenth century, Leonardo da Vinci, used the mineral waters from the three deep springs (396 m; 1300 ft) at San Pellegrino. Famous spas and watering holes, such as Hot Springs in Arkansas and Saratoga Springs in New York and many others in Europe, developed near mineral springs during the late 1800s and early 1900sBottled water can be grouped into the following several categories depending upon the nature of the water and its source.Nonsparkling Water this includes spring water, artesian water, mineral water, and purified water. Domestic production of this type of water in the United States made up more than 95% of the bottled water market in 2002.