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New California law requires water bottlers to list source
WaterWebster staff

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updated Oct.15, 2007/originally published Oct. 14, 2007

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Saturday signed legislation requiring water bottlers to list the source of the water on the label.

“Since so many Californians today rely on bottled water as a primary source for their drinking water," said state Sen. Ellen Corbett, author of the legislation, "the time has come for the bottled water industry to provide the same information that our municipal sources have been providing for the last 20 years."

The measure, SB220, also requires bottled water companies to publish a Consumer Confidence Report on their website. The report is intended to make it easy for consumers to get information about the quality of the bottled water.

The new label requirements take effect Jan. 1, 2009.

Health information will include notices about possible dangers from limited consumption of nitrates and arsenic by infants, pregnant women and those with serious health issues.

The bill also requires regular inspection and maintenance of vended water facilities.

“Consumers pay 300 percent more for bottled water than tap water and 100 percent more for vended water than tap water, they have a right to know what is in their water,” said Corbett, D-San Leandro.

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water as a food item. Tap water is regulated by the state. Federal rules don’t call for the same level of disclosure that California requires water agencies to provide.

In July, Pepsi-Cola announced it was changing the label of its Aquafina bottled water to make it clear that it came from tap water.

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