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Reconsidering Bottled Water: A Closer Look at Purity and Fluoride

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Reconsidering Bottled Water: A Closer Look at Purity and Fluoride

After watching "Tapped: "The Movie" and the research, for sure, my attitude towards

bottled water has changed. The documentary used vivid graphics to tell the story of the

environmental and health impacts of the bottled water industry where it was shown the incredible

amount of plastic waste pollution and the dubious purity of bottled water. It showed me the

intricacies of the simple act of picking up a water bottle from the shelf. Bottled water has now

made me more cautious about it. The temptation of purity is illustrated to be a deception rather

than truth. The experiment of Case Western Reserve University and Ohio State University

introduces the contrast between the perception and an actual fact. Apart from some bottled

waters harboring a higher number of germs than tap water, they also typically have lower

amounts of fluoride, which is required for dental health. This revelation shakes the belief of

bottled water's purity over tap water to the core.

Unlikewise, my opinion of tap water has also grown. In fact, the study revealed that the

water supplied by the municipalities have remarkably constant fluoride levels and relatively low

bacterial counts, thus, showing municipal water treatment systems to be very effective. Although

some issues regarding the water quality of the tap still exist in places with aged infrastructure

systems, this study has confirmed the safety and effectiveness of this water to a degree. The

research brings to light the fact that more visibility and regulation should be expected of the

bottled water industry. Consumers have the right to know what is in the goods that they are

buying, especially when it involves their health. Moreover, it facilitates a further debate on safe

water consumption and the power of legislation in guaranteeing public health.

Article Summary:
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Case Western Reserve University and Ohio State University's researchers undertook a

study that compared the bacterial community and fluoride content of bottled water to tap water

from Cleveland's treatment plants. The study discovered that the vast majority of the tap water

samples met the recommended fluoride levels, and the microbial count was also favorable in

most of the samples. On the other hand, the quality of many of the bottled water samples was

lacking in both respects. Some of bottled waters showed up with a very high level of bacteria in

the tests, which causes doubts about their purity. The researchers also pointed out the

significance of fluoride in the prevention of tooth decay and suggested the information on the

fluoride content level on bottled water products should be clear and labeled. They focused on the

stricter manufacturing standards in order to improve the quality and safety of bottled water as

consumption of it grows among the population.

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Reference

Case Western Reserve University. (2000, March 22). Study finds some bottled water has more

bacteria and less fluoride than tap water. Science Daily.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000322090356.htm#google_vignette

Soechtig, S. (Director). (2009). Tapped: The Movie [Documentary film]. Atlas

Films.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72MCumz5lq4