Does Bottled Water Contain Lead?
Safe drinking water is essential for a healthy lifestyle. In an effort to ensure their water is safe, people try many different options, with one of the most notable being bottled water. Bottled water is often perceived as safer because it is packaged in a controlled environment and does not travel through aging plumbing or service lines before it is consumed.
However, that is not the whole story. Bottled water regulations are determined by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and require lead levels to be below 5 parts per billion (ppb) [1], but according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no safe level of exposure to lead [2]. While bottled water is often perceived as completely free of contaminants, some products still contain detectable levels of lead. In a study published in 2023, it was found that out of 30 bottled water samples tested, 17% of them contained traces of lead [3]. While 0 ppb may sound difficult to achieve, it is not impossible. Technologies like auto-flushing are improving tap water quality to the point where lead is undetectable, and that’s after exposure to lead from service lines, faucets, and solder [4].
After challenging the perception that drinking water is always safer than tap water, the real question is how do we achieve safe drinking water? Although bottled water can reduce exposure to contaminants from household plumbing, some bottled water products have been found to contain detectable levels of lead. Continuing research on technologies that can improve water quality is essential, whether that be bottled water or tap water. In addition, more studies need to be conducted to test various forms of water consumption and their lead levels, as knowing the source of lead contamination is necessary to find a solution to that problem. Ultimately, the goal should not be choosing between bottled water and tap water, but ensuring that both meet the highest possible standards for safety.
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