Part A: Annotated Bibliography
Edberg, S. C. (2015). Microbial Health Risks of Regulated Drinking Waters in the United States—A Comparative Microbial Safety Assessment of Public Water Supplies and Bottled Water.
This article examines the differences between tap water and bottled water in the United States of America, especially in regards to safety, regulation, and source. Essentially, the authors underline that there is a significant difference in the quality of tap water and bottled water. Tap water is likely to cause infections when consumed whereas bottled water rarely causes infections. Infections resulting from the ingestion of bottled water are unheard of, and related recalls are due to issues other than the microbial content of the water. Furthermore, companies involved in the distribution of bottled water are likely to be criminally liable for infections resulting from their products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) controls the use of tap water while the Food and Drug Administration regulates the use of bottled water.
Dindarloo, K., Ghaffari, H. R., Kheradpisheh, Z., Alipour, V., Ghanbarnejad, A., Fakhri, Y., & Goodarzi, B. (2015). Drinking water quality: comparative study of tap water, drinking bottled water and point of use (PoU) treated water in Bandar-e-Abbas, Iran. Desalination and Water Treatment, 1-7.
This study examined the chemical and physical properties of drinking water from three different sources: bottled water, tap water, and point of use drinking water. Some of the aspects that were scrutinised include electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH, levels of dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness, and the levels of minerals such as potassium, sodium, chloride, among others. Water from the three sources fell below the threshold established for physical and chemical components. Some of the chemical and physical aspects that the researchers evaluated are important for the body; therefore, they should not go beyond particular specific levels in drinking water. They established that tap water had the best levels of physical and chemical components that are essential for the optimal physiological functioning of the human body.
Viscusi, W. K., Huber, J., & Bell, J. (2015). The private rationality of bottled water drinking. Contemporary Economic Policy, 33(3), 450-467.
According to this article, most consumers assume that bottled water is superior to tap water; therefore, most consumers prefer bottled water to any other source of drinking water. Such a perspective is especially true for consumers who have bad experiences with unsafe tap water at one point or another. Further, most consumers firmly believe that bottled water tastes better than tap water or water from any other source.
PART B: MEMO
Bottled water is packaged in sealed plastic bottles or glass containers. Research indicates that most people prefer bottled water to other types of water because they believe that it is safer than water from other sources (Viscusi, Huber & Bell, 2015). Such beliefs are especially prevalent among consumers who have had negative experiences with tap water. Even though the EPA regulates the standards of tap water, consumers have experienced some water safety lapses. These lapses are prevalent in low socioeconomic neighbourhoods where Hispanics and African Americans live (Viscusi, Huber & Bell, 2015). For individuals living in such regions, bottled water is the safest alternative.
California Sunshine Filtered water comes from the City Council’s tap water. However, this fact should not cause alarm. Ideally, the City Council’s piped water is safe for drinking and household use, and in the past few decades, it has not caused any major water-borne diseases when used directly from the tap. Further, studies indicate that tap water has more “nutrients” in comparison to water that is passed through numerous filters and machines (Dindarloo et al., 2015). The water supplied by the California Happy Valley Beverage Corporation has some advantages over the public piped water because it is portable. Besides, it is constantly tested and inspected; therefore, it meets the required standards. As a result, the water supplied by the California Happy Valley Beverage Corporation has the added advantage of double regulation; therefore, it is safer and relatively better than tap water or bottled water. The EPA regulates the quality of the filtered water that California Sunshine Company produces (Edberg, 2015). The Food and Drug Administration also plays a crucial and critical role in regulating the water, especially after the company has packaged it into bottles (Edberg, 2015).
References
Dindarloo, K., Ghaffari, H. R., Kheradpisheh, Z., Alipour, V., Ghanbarnejad, A., Fakhri, Y., & Goodarzi, B. (2015). Drinking water quality: comparative study of tap water, drinking bottled water and point of use (PoU) treated water in Bandar-e-Abbas, Iran. Desalination and Water Treatment, 1-7.
Edberg, S. C. (2015). Microbial Health Risks of Regulated Drinking Waters in the United States—A Comparative Microbial Safety Assessment of Public Water Supplies and Bottled Water. Retrieved April 1, 2016, from <http://www.bottledwater.org/files/DWRF%20Microbial%20Health%20Risks%20Paper%20FINAL%20%289.2013%29CSA_FINAL_09302013protected_0.pdf>
Viscusi, W. K., Huber, J., & Bell, J. (2015). The private rationality of bottled water drinking. Contemporary Economic Policy, 33(3), 450-467.
