Proper Care of Bottled Water and Dispensers for Schools

MassDEP's recommendations for maintenance of water coolers and bottled water dispensers in schools, to ensure high quality and prevent disease outbreaks. April 2004.
Web page

Fact Sheet: Color, Taste & Odor: What You Should Know

These aesthetic issues with tap water could be indicators of a problem with the supply. This fact sheet describes the problems and what the consumer can do. Using bottled water as either a short- or long-term alternative to tap water is one solution. August 2005.
Web page

Health & Safety

MassDEP's resources on drinking water health and safety, including information on home treatment, common contaminants, public health issues, water testing, and more. November 2008.
Web page

Bottled Water: Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Bottled water is regulated as a food In Massachusetts, with the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) holding regulatory authority. The DPH website includes information on licensing bottlers, safety testing, lists of bottled water sources, and Massachusetts regulations relating to bottled water and other beverages.
DPH Web site

Drinking Water and Health: What you need to know

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the health and safety standards for drinking water on which standards for bottled water are based. Bottled water sources must meet EPA's drinking water standards. This EPA web page provides links to information about drinking water safety, including bottled water.
US EPA Web site

US EPA Multimedia Center: "Tap Water vs. Bottled Water"

In this video on EPA's website, Ben Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water discusses the issues surrounding the tap vs. bottled water debate, including the health, economic and environmental impact of both.
US EPA Web site

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Issues - Bottled Water

The NRDC's Q&A on bottled water sources, safety, and environmental impacts, particularly the composition and disposal of bottles.
NRDC Web site

US Food & Drug Administration: Bottled Water Everywhere: Keeping It Safe

While US EPA regulates water supply safety, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the bottled-water industry. This FDA page is a useful outline of basic information on bottled water types, sources, and safety.
US FDA Web site

US Food & Drug Administration: Bottled Water Regulations

The US FDA regulates bottled water as a food. This web page provides links to Federal regulations and rules governing bottled water and allowable levels of certain chemicals in the water.
US FDA Web site