Experiments in Bottled Water Quality Price vs Purity

Experiments in Bottled Water Quality: Price vs. Purity • Lanita Aslinger • Undergraduate, Department of Biology • Tennessee Technological University, 38505

Introduction Problem Statement: Prices of bottled waters vary, thus misleading the consumer into believing the purity of water has an ultimate effect on price.

How popular is it? “Americans drink 4 billion gallons of bottled water a year. ” (The Western Journal of Medicine, 2000) “Over the past few years the displays of bottled water in supermarkets and other retail outlets have grown to occupy anywhere from a single shelf up to one complete aisle. . . ” (Thurman, et al. , 2002) “Sales of non-carbonated bottled and canned beverages in convenience stores have been increasing at a rate faster than those of traditional ‘core’ beverages, beer and soda pop. ” (Fucini, 1993)

HOW HEALTHY IS IT? “Bottled water claims to purity are bogus” (World Wildlife Fund, 2001) “ 1997 tests showed that several widely used brands [of bottled water] contained significant amounts of bacteria, arsenic, and volatile organic chemicals. ” (Macht, 1999)

Hypothesis Statement • Name brand bottled waters of varying classifications (i. e. Spring, Purified, Distilled) are not of better quality than discount store brands of the same classification.

Project Summary • The objective of this research was to determine the nutritional value of different bottled waters with an emphasis on their price differences. • A variety of tests were conducted on the bottled waters.

Methods and Materials Ø One gallon of each: Crystal Spring Water Crystal Purified Water Crystal Distilled Water Great Value Spring Water Great Value Purified Water Great Value Distilled Water Ø Each individual water was tested for contents of Calcium and Chlorine as well as p. H, Alkalinity, and Total Dissolved Solute. Ø The following data chart was used.

Price Product Name Source Calcium p. H Alkalinity Chlorine Total Dissolved Solute Crystal Spring Water $0. 88 Spring; Blue Ridge, GA 10 6. 5 20 0 0 Crystal Purified Water $0. 84 Municipal Water Supply; Mableton, GA 50 6. 6 10 0 0 Crystal Distilled Water $0. 88 Municipal Water Supply; Mableton, GA 10 6. 6 10 0 0 Great Value Spring Water $0. 58 Naturalle Springs; Greenville, TN 120 7. 4 100 0 0 Great Value Purified Water $0. 58 Municipal Water Supply; Greenville, TN 5 6. 4 0 0 0 Great Value Distilled Water $0. 58 Municipal Water Supply; Greenville, TN 0 6. 5 10 0 0

Results • Differences were evident between the name brand bottled waters and their competitor of corresponding type.

Conclusion • Great Value Spring Water proven as best overall drinking water. • Proven that the less expensive brand of water is in fact a better source of drinking water.