Bottled Water University Edition: Definitions

Absorption

A process in which one substance, such as a liquid or solid, permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid.  Some water filters absorb contaminants in this manner.

Adsorption

The process by which molecules of a substance, such as a gas or a liquid, collect on the surface of another substance, such as a solid. The molecules are attracted to the surface but do not enter the solid's minute spaces as in absorption. Some drinking water filters consist of carbon cartridges that adsorb contaminants.

Aesthetic contaminants

Non-health-related contaminants that affect the odor, appearance, and/or taste of water. These can include chlorine, minerals, and particulates, among others.

Antimony

A potentially toxic trace element that is an eye, skin, and lung irritant at high doses and has chemical properties similar to those of arsenic. It has been found to leach from bottles made of PET plastic.

Arsenic

A highly poisonous metallic element sometimes present in trace amounts in bottled water, municipal water, and well water.

At-risk populations

Groups of people (such as the very young, elderly, pregnant, and those with weakened immune systems) who are particularly susceptible to toxins and contaminants found in bottled and tap water. These populations may experience adverse health effects even when exposed to contaminant levels that meet or fall below legal standards.  

Benzene

Beverage exclusivity
contract

A toxic substance that can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and unconsciousness. Long-term exposure can cause anemia, leukemia, and bone marrow problems. Sometimes emitted when PET resin is manufactured into plastic bottles.

Agreements between many colleges and universities and beverage providers (i.e. Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co., etc.) that guarantee beverages from the provider’s competitors will not be sold or distributed. These contracts vary widely between schools.

Bioaccumulate

A process whereby harmful substances accumulate as they move up the food chain.

Biofilm

A slime-like layer of bacterial growth that can coat the internal components of coolers, fountains, and filters. This film can develop when drinking units are not properly cleaned and maintained and when water is allowed to sit in storage tanks for extended periods of time.
 

Bottle Bill

A legislative bill that requires the charging of a refundable deposit on certain beverage bottles and cans, to encourage the return of these containers for recycling and litter reduction.

Bottled water

Drinking water that is put into bottles and offered for sale.

Bottled water cooler

A cooler that dispenses cold, hot, or room-temperature water from a large multi-gallon jug of bottled water.

Bottle-less water dispenser

A dispenser that connects directly to a main municipal water supply line and dispenses tap water as opposed to bottled water (this includes water fountains and coolers, as well as other dispensers with built-in tanks that hold pre-chilled or pre-heated water).

Bulk bottle

Bottles that contain multiple gallons of water (the most common is a 5-gallon bottle).

Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

An annual “right-to-know” report of an area’s drinking water quality that the EPA requires water suppliers to send to customers.

Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP)

Part of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which establishes processing and bottling regulations for beverages.

Chloramine

A chlorine-ammonia compound used as a disinfectant in 29 percent of U.S. water utilities. Can cause asthma, rashes, and fainting (GG, 2007).

Chlorine

A chemical used effectively as a disinfectant for municipal water treatment systems. When emitted as a gas – such as when plastic bottles are incinerated – it can be highly irritating to respiratory organs. May also be present in tap water in trace amounts, though in a different chemical form than that which leaches from PET and other plastic bottles.

Coliform bacteria

Presence of these bacteria in water can indicate presence of Cryptosporidium and other dangerous microbes. Coliform bacteria are not harmful in themselves (GG, 2007).

Community water system

Public water system that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents (EPA, 2006; EPA, 2007b).

Direct chill coolers

These coolers chill water instantly after it passes through the cooler’s filter. Bacterial growth is avoided because water does not sit in storage tanks and, as a result, direct chill coolers also tend to use less energy.

Dioxins

A particular class of chlorine-containing chemical compounds classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) by the EPA. Not all PBTs are dioxins. See PBT for more information on other persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals. 

Direct feed fountain

A water fountain that dispenses water directly from the tap, without using refrigeration or storage tanks. These fountains take advantage of the naturally cooler temperature of water that comes from underground municipal pipes.

Distillation

A water purification process by which water is boiled and the steam is recondensed, leaving behind certain contaminants. Typically combined with other filtration methods (such as carbon adsorption) to remove any remaining contaminants.

Downcycled

The process by which recycled materials “lose viability or value in the process of recycling. They can then only be used in a degraded form for components other than their original use” (Sustainability Dictionary, n.d.). PET (#1) plastic can only be fully recycled into new plastic water bottles a few times before it is downcycled into products such as carpet fiber and plastic lumber.

Drinking Water Treatment Unit (DWTU)

A device that reduces or removes aesthetic and/or health-related contaminants from water. DWTUs can include filters, fountains, and bottle-less water coolers.

E. Coli

A bacterium sometimes found in bottled, municipal, and well water that can be pathogenic and threaten food safety.

End-of-life management

Process by which products are reused, recycled, remanufactured, or disposed of after their term of useful service expires.

Environmentally preferable

Products and services that have either a more positive or a less negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose.

Ethylbenzene

A toxic substance that can cause drowsiness, fatigue, headache, and mild eye and respiratory irritation with short term exposure. Long term exposure is linked to damage to the liver, kidneys, central nervous system and eyes. Ethylbenzene is emitted when PET resin is manufactured into plastic bottles.

Ethylene oxide

A toxic substance that, with acute exposures, can cause respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization. Emitted when PET resin is manufactured into plastic bottles.

Fluoridation

The process of adding fluoride into municipal tap water as a way to combat tooth decay.  The process began in the 1940’s but has recently received increased scrutiny.

Greenhouse gas

Heat-trapping gas in the Earth’s atmosphere responsible for global warming; category includes water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, CFCs, and nitrogen oxides.

Hazardous substance

1. Material posing a threat to human health and/or the environment, which can be toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive, or chemically reactive, 2. Substance that must be reported to the EPA if released into the environment.

Hazardous waste

Hazardous by-products that can pose a hazard to human health or the environment when improperly managed.

Health-related contaminants

Contaminants that can cause specific negative health effects as a result of short- or long-term exposure. These can include Cryptosporidium, Giardia, lead, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether), among many others.

Heavy metals

Metallic elements with high atomic weights; (e.g. mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead) that can damage living things at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain (EPA, 2007b). When plastic bottles are incinerated, heavy metals can be deposited in the ash. Heavy metals may also leach into water from pipes and can be found in trace amounts in soil, water supplies, and elsewhere.

Lead

Metal used in older plumbing infrastructure (i.e. pipes) that can contaminate water supplies and cause blood and brain disorders as well as damage to the nervous system.

Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL)

The highest level of a naturally-occurring or man-made contaminant the EPA allows in drinking water.

Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MTCE)

The international standard for expressing greenhouse gases in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents.

Multi-serve bottle

Large, multi-gallon jug (or carboy) of water. Usually holds 5 gallons and weighs around 50 pounds.

Nickel

A toxic substance that can cause dermatitis, respiratory irritation, and lung and nasal cancer. Nickel is emitted when PET resin is manufactured into plastic bottles.

Nitrates

Compounds containing nitrogen that can exist as a dissolved gas in water and can have harmful effects on humans. A plant nutrient and inorganic fertilizer, nitrate is found in septic systems, animal feed lots, agricultural fertilizers, manure, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills, and garbage dumps (EPA, 2007b)

PBTs

Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals that remain in the environment for long periods of time, are not readily destroyed, and build up or accumulate in body tissue.

Plumbed-in water dispenser

A dispenser that connects directly to a main municipal water supply line and dispenses tap water as opposed to bottled water (this includes water fountains as well as dispensers with built-in tanks that hold pre-chilled or pre-heated water).

Point-of-entry site

The location where tap water enters a home or building.

Point-of-use site

The location where tap water directly reaches a consumer, such as a faucet or water fountain.

Polycarbonate plastic

Plastic used in baby bottles, food can liners, and sport water bottles. Tends to be hard, transparent, and shatter-proof. Labeled number 7, which is a catchall category for plastics that do not fit into one of the other six categories. Studies have found that polycarbonate bottles leach Bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, into the beverages they hold.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE, #1 plastic)

Plastic labeled number 1, used in making synthetic fibers, beverage bottles, liquid containers, and carpet.  This plastic is a type of polyester.

Post-Consumer Recycled Content

Material recovered from a consumer product at the end of its life, diverted from waste destined for disposal.

Public (or municipal) water system

A system that provides piped water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or regularly serves 25 individuals (EPA, 2007b).

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Regulates the U.S. municipal drinking water supply; enforced by the EPA.

Safe Drinking Water Information System
(SDWIS)

A database which contains information about public water systems and their violations of EPA’s drinking water regulations (EPA, 2006a).

Single-serving bottle

Bottle intended for one-time use and disposal; usually containing half-liter (16.9 oz) of water or less.

Take-back

“A ‘producer responsibility’ approach to facilitating reuse or recycling whereby consumers return used products back to the company that produced them” (Sustainability Dictionary, n.d.). Some filter companies offer take-back of used filter cartridges, but many do not.

Tap water

Municipal water drawn directly from a tap, faucet, or other direct local water supply line.

Toxic substance

A chemical or chemicals that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection

A water treatment process, incorporated into many bottle-less water coolers, which uses a 4-12 watt ultraviolet bulb to irradiate water as it flows through the cooler. UV disinfection systems kill most viruses found in water and has been certified to kill up to 99.9999% of bacteria.

Water distribution system (drinking water infrastructure)

An underground network of pipes that delivers drinking water to homes and businesses. Small systems may be relatively simple, while large metropolitan systems can be extremely complex, sometimes consisting of thousands of miles of pipes serving millions of people.