Bottled Water Drinking Quality.

Surely purified water is what we get in our bottled water and there must be quality control placed on those companies that bottle and sell water to us in bottles and other contained systems.

But what about the container itself. Is there any risk involved with the water absorbing chemicals and such from the surface of these "safe" containers? Well! If we are drinking from glass bottles that we know have been properly sterilized before being filled, that would be steam flushed, then it is hard to do better than that. But what about the quality of the water that is placed in the bottles after this cleaning process? Well! we will come to that shortly.

So how do we ensure bottled water drinking quality?

Now! How about plastic bottles? Is there any toxin that can be absorbed into the water from the surface of these plastic bottles? The Daily Greenaddresses this topic as quoted 'Though it's true regulators and the plastics industry are pointing out that the science on the real-world harms is not yet proven, many are saying the stakes are too high, and the alternatives too easy, to ignore. Read on to see which types of water and baby bottles you don't want to give your kids.'

'Number 3 Plastics V (Vinyl) or PVC Found in: Cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging

Harvard-educated Dr. Leo Trasande of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine advises consumers to avoid number 3 plastics for food and drinks. (If you're unsure, look for the little symbol that should be printed on the container. Some brands have left the symbols off, which is a major problem.)

Why? Number 3 plastics may release toxic breakdown products (including pthalates) into food and drinks.

The risk is highest when containers start wearing out, are put through the dishwasher or when they are heated (including microwaved). PVC manufacturing can release highly toxic dioxins into the environment, and the materials can off-gas toxic plasticizers into your home.

Number 6 Plastics PS (polystyrene) Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers

Number 6 plastics (polystyrene) are made into soft Styrofoam-style cups as well as rigid foams and hard plastic products, so remember to look for those little numbers in the arrows (don't feel bad if you need a magnifying glass). Avoid using them as much as possible.

Why? Number 6 plastics can release potentially toxic breakdown products (including styrene). Get this: particularly when heated! That insulated coffee cup -- the one that 'knows' when to keep your drink warm -- doesn't seem so smart anymore does it?

Number 7 Plastics Miscellaneous Found in: Baby bottles, three- and five-gallon water bottles, certain food containers

A wide range of plastic resins that don't fit into the other six categories are lumped into number 7. Some are quite safe, but the ones to worry about are the hard polycarbonate varieties, as found in various drinking containers (like Nalgene bottles) and rigid plastic baby bottles.

Why? Studies have shown polycarbonate can leach bisphenol A, a potential hormone disruptor, into liquids. According to Trasande, no level of bisphenol A exposure is known to be truly safe, and in August a government panel expressed 'some concern' that the ingredient causes neural and behavioral problems in children.

Why not play it safe and swap out those hard plastic baby and water bottles for Number 1, 5 or corn-based plastics, or even shatter-resistant glass?'

And what about the process of taking the brand new plastic bottles and then filling them with water. Are they flushed out correctly and how many times does it take to flush out these bottles until plastic toxins cease or minimise to transfer into the water, drink or food content in these containers. Without thorough testing, we will never really know.

So bottled water drinking quality has a purpose of bottling pure quality water that is free from these dangerous toxins like chlorine used in the sterilising process of our drinking water, but at a price of now filling your drinking water with new and unknown plastic toxins and residues.

Warmly, Mike King

This is what I do: rope access

The ultimate Drinking Water! Deside for yourself and make the choices that you feel are best for you and your family. Personally I only drink the ultimate drinkig water when at all possible. And further still, from a sterilised glass bottle when at all possible. Peace of mind for myself and my family where and when ever it can be acheive.