It is undoubtedly the necessary "accessory" of the summer: a bottle of bottled water in hand, whether we are walking on the hot streets of the city or sunbathing on the beach. The consumption of bottled water is gaining more and more followers in our country, although we are still far below the average of the rest of Europe. It is estimated that the average European consumes 80-100 liters of bottled water a year, while the Italian champions reach 150 liters. But how many of us know what we are drinking? And how many of us can understand what is written on the label of a bottled water, as well as whether we have made the best choice of water?
What are the types of bottled water?
Table water
According to the legislation, therefore, table water is allowed to be of any origin (e.g. from a borehole, from a lake, from a river, even desalinated sea water). Table water may have undergone some disinfection process in order for its composition to comply with the relevant EU drinking water directive. That is, practically the composition of table water is the same as that of the tap.
Natural mineral water
Natural mineral water is exclusively of underground origin and is bottled on site at its source (usually a borehole). Community directives prohibit any treatment or disinfection of natural mineral water. The underground origin of the natural mineral water, as well as the prohibition of any activity at a sufficient distance around the well, ensure its protection from germs. Its composition may contain various metals and trace elements, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc. The only treatment allowed on natural mineral water is the removal or addition of carbon dioxide, in which case the water is labeled as "naturally carbonated," "carbonated," or "spring gas-enhanced" accordingly.
Spring water
Spring water is the intermediate category between table and natural mineral water. Spring water is similar to natural mineral water in that it must have an underground origin, a stable composition, does not undergo any disinfection process and is always bottled at its source. However, it differs from natural mineral water in that its composition does not follow that of natural mineral water, but of table water. This means that the spring water is not rich in any metallic element (e.g. Magnesium, Calcium), so that it can be characterized as magnesian, calcareous, etc. However, it is more likely that we will see the designation "spring water" on some imported water, since bottled Greek waters belong to either the natural mineral or table waters.
What are the disadvantages of bottled water?
Expensive
A 2014 study showed that we pay 1.000 times more for a product that is abundant in the home and in nature….
Tap water costs €1 per cubic meter, i.e. 1000 liters.
The bottled one costs from €0,5 to €2 per liter, i.e. over €1.000 per cubic meter!
Awkward
People who use bottled water often tend to have a lot of bottles at their feet – empty containers or new jugs waiting to be used. People usually keep "pure" water for special reasons, e.g. coffees, drinks, instead of consuming it comfortably whenever needed. In all households there is the phenomenon of the lack of bottled water when it is necessary as well as the tedious process (which causes suspension..) of transporting it!
Inappropriate
The greatest danger arising from bottled water is the following: On each bottle is written in small letters, which are hard to see, what the bottling companies are obliged by law to write prominently: 'This should be stored in a cool and shady place (temperature up to 18 degrees Celsius)'. As is well known, however, almost none of the bottled water storage facilities meet the above conditions, especially in spring and summer. Bottles are transported in refrigerated trucks and left in sheet metal warehouses and literally boil, or left on the sidewalks in the sun, or in warehouses not suitable for storage. This means a rise in the temperature inside the plastic bottle, the formation of compounds and the exponential multiplication of microbes that make the water unfit for drinking.
Dangerous
The worst thing is that most of the time we prefer bottled water for children or the elderly or for people at high risk not knowing that a spoiled batch of bottled water can be dangerous.