Aquafina labels: It's really tap water

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Associated Press

NEW YORK -So you thought that water in your Aquafina bottle came from some far-away spring bubbling deep in a glen?

Try the same place as the water in your tap.

PepsiCo Inc. is the latest company to offer some clarity about the source of its top-selling bottled water as it announced on Friday it would change the label on Aquafina water bottles to spell out that the drink comes from the same source as tap water.

A group called Corporate Accountability International has been pressuring bottled water sellers to curb what it calls misleading marketing practices. The group has criticized PepsiCo over its blue Aquafina label with a mountain logo as perpetuating the misconception that the water comes from spring sources.

Aquafina is the single biggest bottled water brand, and its bottles are now labeled “P.W.S.” The new labels will spell out “public water source.”

“If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it's a reasonable thing to do,” PepsiCo spokeswoman Michelle Naughton said Friday. Aquafina water is taken from public sources then purified in a seven-step process.

The corporate accountability group is also pressing for similar concessions from The Coca-Cola Co., which owns the Dasani water brand, and Nestle Waters North America, seller of Nestle Pure Life purified drinking water, which gets some of its water from municipal sources.

Dasani's Web site says that Dasani comes from local water supplies, is filtered using a process called reverse osmosis and enhanced with minerals.

“We don't believe that consumers are confused about the source of Dasani water,” Coca-Cola spokeswoman Diana Garza Ciarlante said. “The label clearly states that it is purified water.”

Sales of bottled water has been a growing source of revenue for companies such as PepsiCo, based in Purchase, N.Y., and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola as they lessen their dependence on sales of traditional carbonated sodas, as consumer concern over health issues has weakened demand.

Nestle said Friday it has been printing new labels for its Pure Life water that say whether the water comes from municipal supplies or ground water, and the labels will begin showing up later this year. Pure Life is the only Nestle bottled water that uses public water sources and the company did not have an estimate for how much of its supply originates from the tap.

Wholesale sales of bottled water grew to $11 billion in 2006, according to the Beverage Marketing Corp., and the industry is expected to maintain growth rates of about 10 percent. The fastest growing segment of the industry is sales of bottles of less than 1.5 liters, which includes the individual serving sizes sold in many convenience and grocery stores.

The decisions by Nestle and PepsiCo come as criticism grows over environmental concerns about the industry's use of local water sources as well as consumption of resin and energy to package and ship the bottles.

Last month alone, a barrage of news hit the industry: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom banned city-funded purchases of bottled water; New York City launched an ad campaign called “Get Your Fill” to promote the benefits of tap water; and the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution to bring attention to the importance of public water systems and the negative impact of bottled water.

“I think it's unfortunate we have gotten into this tap water vs. bottled water debate,” the CEO of the International Bottled Water Association, Joe Doss, said. “I do not think consumers are uniformly replacing tap water with bottled water.”

PepsiCo shares fell 55 cents to $66.29 in afternoon trading Friday amid a broad market pullback.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer...water27-on.html

[JoeMama 0]

AquaFina, whether it comes out of the tap or not, the large opening at the mouth of the bottle has a very good purpose for those of us who travel long distances. But don't want to pull over to use the restroom!

[Marilyn. 340]

Dasani's Web site says that Dasani comes from local water supplies, is filtered using a process called reverse osmosis and enhanced with minerals.

well, even if it just comes from the same source as tap water at least it is filtered....

tap water here in Cali is disgusting.. I would never drink it....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

AquaFina, whether it comes out of the tap or not, the large opening at the mouth of the bottle has a very good purpose for those of us who travel long distances. But don't want to pull over to use the restroom!

LOL I've had to do that on a few occasions.

[Jenn! 918]

AquaFina, whether it comes out of the tap or not, the large opening at the mouth of the bottle has a very good purpose for those of us who travel long distances. But don't want to pull over to use the restroom!

LOL I've had to do that on a few occasions.

Dumb and Dumber.

[JoeMama 0]

AquaFina, whether it comes out of the tap or not, the large opening at the mouth of the bottle has a very good purpose for those of us who travel long distances. But don't want to pull over to use the restroom!

LOL I've had to do that on a few occasions.

Situations like that, all you can do is lean back into the carseat while driving and say, "It's great to be a guy"!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

AquaFina, whether it comes out of the tap or not, the large opening at the mouth of the bottle has a very good purpose for those of us who travel long distances. But don't want to pull over to use the restroom!

LOL I've had to do that on a few occasions.

Dumb and Dumber.

I've been to the point of tears from holding it too long...and my bladder is the size of a gerbil.

[Ban Hammer 13,255]

if anyone gets ozarka drinking water.....read the label. it's from the ft worth municipal water works

[Marilyn. 340]

i doubt most bottled water is straight tap water but the water is probably filtered and minerals are added.....

i never had any illusions that bottled water came from some mountain stream somewhere

Edited July 28, 2007 by MarilynP

[JoeMama 0]

i doubt most bottled water is straight tap water but the water is probably filtered and minerals are added.....

i never had any illusions that bottled water came from some mountain stream somewhere

I know what you mean. I never had any illusions that Sandy Duncan would always question her freshness whenever she would look upon an open wheat field in those Masengill commercials.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Most tap water is fine to drink. People just like to waste money.

[Marilyn. 340]

Most tap water is fine to drink. People just like to waste money.

have you ever drank LA water..??

I don't feel like I am wasting money either.....

I should maybe invest in a good filter, then I could filter my own water but I like the convenience of the bottled water....

[Jenn! 918]

I should maybe invest in a good filter, then I could filter my own water but I like the convenience of the bottled water....

Don't you find bottled water somewhat inconvenient to lug from the grocery store? I'm so glad that our tap water is fine so I don't have to bother with that. A lot less trash too!

[Marilyn. 340]

I should maybe invest in a good filter, then I could filter my own water but I like the convenience of the bottled water....

Don't you find bottled water somewhat inconvenient to lug from the grocery store? I'm so glad that our tap water is fine so I don't have to bother with that. A lot less trash too!

no, because my hubby does the lugging

we usually buy a couple of 24 bottle flats at a time, that usually lasts us about a month ...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Most tap water is fine to drink. People just like to waste money.

Clearly, you have neither been to TN or FL. Tap water in both those places is hideous.