Bottled water

Italians are the main consumers of drinking water in the world. In the last 10 years the national mineral water production has grown from 6.100 million liters to 9.150 million litres, with an annual value of almost two and a half billion euros. The average annual cost is about 300 euros for every Italian family.
Almost half Italian population prefers bottle water to tap water and on average every inhabitant drinks about half a litre. 266 different brands of mineral water are present in Italy, bottled under their commercial names and with an indication of the place in which they well up and are bottled.

As a paradox Italy is a country rich in springs, usually of a very high quality. These springs are partially used for bottle water production, partially for the distribution in drinking water networks.
In Rome someone has even opened a drug store dedicated to mineral water. There you can choose between 60 water brands coming from all over Europe and US, even if in Rome there are more than 2080 fountains providing very good drinking water at the citizens' disposal.
Does all this make sense?

Bottled water means transportation problems, thus energy consumption and pollution, and waste problems: glass water bottles are recyclable and within a certain extent plastic bottles as well. 5 millions plastic bottles are used per year, which are not biodegradable and have a almost unlimited life when disposed in the environment. At their end of life plastic bottles are incinerated and become responsible for the emission in atmosphere of toxic compounds such as chloric acids, heavy metals and dioxins. More than one third in weight of the incinerated waste remains in form of ash, containing toxic compounds.
During their use plastic bottles do not ensure the hygienic safety ensured by glass bottles, since they can loose unwanted compounds in water, particularly if they are stocked in a warm place or under the sunlight.

American market researches showed that in US the most likely consumer of drinking water is a well educated, middle class adult between 18 and 34, who is aware of the existence of health problems. He drinks bottled water to point put who he is and what he represents. In an age characterised by chemical pollution, bottled water is considered pure and untouched, becoming the good health symbol. Even if bottled water quality is good, you should not forget that it is not above contamination: small amounts of pesticides and organics can reach the water spring. As tap water it is not sterile (unless it is ozonized) and it can contain usually not harmful bacteria.
American tap water quality is usually very high, as the Italian one, so bottled water does not seem to have many benefits compared to tap water, unless the taste. For many people bottled water as a much better taste than tap water. Tap water is often disinfected using chlorine, which gives it a sour flavour. Tap water could also contain metals originated by pipes, which are unpleasant to ingest.

Normative

The directive 80/777/ECC states what can and what cannot be considered mineral water.

Controls

Water is a public good, even if its exploitation can be given in concession to private people, after payment of a bill. Water is commercialised after authorisation by the Health Department and law foresees a periodical (monthly or biweekly) control of plants (entrusted to hospitals), seasonal controls of the spring and quinquennial controls for the label renewal. Anyway producers are interested to look after the good name of the company and carry out controls to different production levels. Compared to tap water, which is daily controlled, bottled water offers less warranties of official controls.

The label

Information shown in the label varies depending one the brand. As for all the food many information indicates seriousness. The most common information are:

Production plot in terms of day, month and year;
Commercial name;
Merchandise class (Mineral Water);
Content in l, cl or dl;
Main properties (composition in mineral salts, health effects etc.);
Bacteriological analysis or the saying 'Biologically pure')
Chemical analysis: physical-chemical features as pH, spring temperature, electric conductibility, total hardness, fixed residue at different temperatures, compounds and gasses dissolved in one liter of water;
membership class (mineral, mediomineral, oligomineral)
Selling authorisation by Health Department decree, number and date;
the saying 'do not dispose in the environment';
Bar code

Optional is the indication of salient qualities such: Possibility of diuretic effect, possibility of laxative effect, indicated for newborn feeding, indicated for sodium poor diets, it stimulates digestion (or similar), it can help ephatobiliar functions (or similar). Please notice that most waters point out the same functions, often very obvious: extolling mineral water purification and diuretic qualities is like doubting on the cleverness of the consumer, who should know that water has always these properties.

Mineral water types

Mineral water lightly mineralized
It forms about the 9% of all the mineral waters on sale in Italy. Its low mineral content, up to 50 mg/l and its usually low pH make it more diuretic. It is recommended in bladder stone cases or to dilute powder milk for young children. This kind of water can be too light for all the other people.

Oligomineral water lightly mineralized
It forms more than a half of all the bottled mineral water in Italy. The mineral content is included between 50 and 500 mg/l depending on the mineral content. Advertisements point out its lightness and its diuretic action, useful to prevent bladder stoning. It is not recommended to drink more than 2 or 3 litres/day in all cases of bladder dysfunctions and hypertension. Lightly mineralized water can have a slightly demineralising effect.

Mineralised water
It is the real mineral water, with a fixed residue up to 1500 mg/l. Usually this is the fixed residue contained in our tap water. The diuretic effect gets slightly lower proportionally to the increasing in fixed residue.

Type of water	Fixed residue
Mineral water lightly mineralized	< 50 mg/l
Oligomineral water	>50 < 500 mg/l
Mediomineral water	> 500 < 1500 mg/l
Water rich in minerals	> 1500 mg/l

Which water should we choose?

Unfortunately advertisements are not a reliable guide in mineral water choice. All the companies producers of bottled water are willing to guarantee a very general effects appreciated by all the consumers and which make us inconscially hope to feel light, deflated, thin, active.

Mineral water choice should be made consulting the nutritionist doctor, particularly in case of people having health problems, starting from disorders. If no disorders are present, to choose the most suitable water for the whole family you should consider some basic criteria:

The most advertised and most expensive mineral water apparently is not the best: publicity can in fact influence the final price up to 50%;
Read the label carefully:
      - a mediomineral water with a fixed residue between 500 and 800 mg/l can be the most suitable for your family;
      - low values of nitrates and sulphates, ad eventually of chlorine and sodium, are very important;
      - check the making date and choose the most recent;
Glass bottles and not sparking water should be preferred: the added carbon dioxide increases water acidity and our diets are already very rich in acidic compounds;
Bottles and packages should be perfectly intact. Do not buy water from dispenser where a storage outside, under the sunlight, is evident.

A brief description of some mineral waters follows. Please note that the following description has only illustrative purpose and every choice concerning nutrition, including mineral water, should be made consulting your doctor. For further information click on pure water web page.

Type of water:	Content:	mg/l
Bicarbonate water	Bicarbonate	> 600
Sulphate water	Sulphates	> 200
Chlorine water	Chlorine	> 200
Calcic water	Calcium	> 150
Magnesium water	Magnesium	> 50
Florurated water	Fluorine	> 1
Irony water	Iron	> 1
Sodic water	Sodium	> 200
Low sodic water	Sodium	< 20

Bicarbonated water
The anion HCO₃ has a concentration higher than 600 mg/l or anyway it is dominant.
Effects: This water can accelerate gastric emptying if drunk during meals, fasting it limits gastric acidity.
For who: carbonated water is generally prescribed to who suffer epatobiliaric disorders and it is recommended to who practise sport, since bicarbonate and calcium are able to neutralise lactic acid. It is useful for babies who vomit frequently or anyway as food integration in first months, since it is rich in precious minerals.

Sulphated water
The SO₄ content should be higher than 200 mg/l or it is anyway dominant.
Effects: sulphated water is slightly laxative. It relax biliaric muscles and has an equilibrating effect on the stomach.
For who: it is recommended for people suffering spastic cholite or colon diseases. It is not recommended during growth, since it can interfere with calcium adsorption.

Chlorinated water
Water in which the anion Cl is dominant.
Effects: if chlorine water has an high mineral content (hyper tonic), it increases internal peristalsis, if it has a low mineral concentration (hypotonic) it stimulates gastric secretion. It can have spasmodic, coleretic action and protect liver from toxic compounds.
For who: Chlorinated water is recommended for hyper tense people with renal problems.

Calcic water
Calcic water usually is calcic bicarbonate water. It should have a calcium content higher than 150 mg/l.
Effects: calcic water usually act on stomach and liver. It helps to prevent osteoporosis and to reduce hypertension. Calcic water cannot and should not be considered a food calcium source.
For who: it is useful for people who suffer stomach and liver disorders, to prevent high pressure, osteoporosis and for growing children.

Magnesic waters
Magnesic water has a magnesium content higher than 50 mg/l and in rather rare in the market.
Effects: Magnsiac water has a purging effect, but it is prescribed to prevent arteriosclerosis, since magnesiac waters containing lithium and potassium induce a sensible arteries dilatation.
For who: magnasiac water is useful for who suffer magensium lack, which can bring cramps, low stress resistance and fatigue.

Sodic water
Sodium content in sodic water is 200 mg/l.
Effects: Sodic water positively effects neuromuscular excitability.
For who: Usually it is believed that these waters are contraindicated for hyper tense people, but it is a debated topic. Sodic water is recommended in case of sodium lack and for who practices sport.

Fluorinated water
According to law fluorinated water is water which contain a concentration higher than 1 mg/l of fluorine. It is natural fluorine, than does not originate from industrial operation residues.
Effects: Fluorinated water contains fluorine that helps to reinforce teeth and dental caries. According to law the maximum admissible content in water is 1.7 mg/l and an excess can cause fluorosis, an accumulation of fluorine in teeth and bones.
For who: fluorinated water is recommended during the growth and for who is affected by osteoporosis, but an intake for long periods is not recommended.

Ferruginous water
Iron bivalent content should be higher than 1 mg/l.
Effects: Iron is assimilated by the intestine as ferric ion.
For who: Ferruginous water is recommended for haemic people, as integration to medical therapies. They are not recommended for who suffers gastritis or gastroenteritis.

Da: "Acqua buona, Acqua sana", Gudrun dalla Via, Ed. Il Punto d'incorntro, 2003

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Fixed residue