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FDA Provides New Standards For Bottled Water

By Jared A. Favole, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Food and Drug Administration is pushing more stringent testing standards for the $11 billion bottled water industry, saying companies will have to eliminate any causes of fecal contamination in water sources before they can bottle the water for sale.

The FDA's new rules also require manufacturers to test source water for any forms of coliform, a group of bacteria that are mostly harmless, according to a copy of the rules scheduled to be posted in the Federal Register on Friday. If coliform is found, manufacturers must also test for fecal contamination. Water that goes into bottles is already tested for coliform and fecal contamination, but the water source itself wasn't previously required to be tested.

The new rules were proposed two years ago, and bring the FDA's standards essentially in line with that of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has federal oversight of tap water. The rules go into effect Dec. 1.

The FDA notes that 70% to 75% of bottled water comes from the ground, or the same places where people receive tap water.

The new rule also says bottled water producers must keep records of source water testing.

-By Jared A. Favole, Dow Jones Newswires; 202.862.9207; jared.favole@ dowjones.com

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