ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Drinking Water Research Foundation has released the results of a review paper entitled “Microbial Health Risks of Regulated Drinking Waters in the United States,” according to a press release.

The paper compares the risk of public drinking water and bottled water using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and presentations from a 2009 drinking water symposium at Yale University, the release reported.

According to the release, the paper explores the difference in quality monitoring, regulatory standards violations, advisories and distribution system conditions for tap and bottled water.

The key finding of the paper was that, “it is clear that as a consequence of the differences in regulations, distribution systems, operating (manufacturing) practices and microbial standards of quality, public drinking water supplies present a substantially higher human risk than do bottled waters for illness due to waterborne organisms.”

While tap water is regulated by the EPA, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is more stringent in regulations concerning lead, coliform bacteria and E. coli, according to the release.

Download the review paper here.

The research is fascinating as it does refute other data claiming that bottled water is less safe than public water supplies.  Below is an excerpt from the conclusion paragraph of the review paper:

Bottled Water and Ozone

A fast-acting and effective treatment technology, ozone is now used in a variety of potable water treatment applications. Ozone treatment is becoming widely used for bottled water in North America — now the most rapidly growing market for ozone.

Ozone Benefits for the Beverage Market

• Ozone is superior to any other disinfection method because of its high oxidation state.
• Ozone allows for lower operating costs and reduces overall chemical costs.
• Ozone is not typically associated with by-products, and naturally reverts to oxygen, so no taste or odor is associated after its use.
• Ozone is generated on-site. Therefore no dangerous storage or handling is required.
• The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) suggests a residual ozone level of 0.2 to 0.4 ppm. This provides disinfection to both the water and the bottle.
• Destroying bacteria instantly, ozone works faster than any other oxidant on the market!