Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives last month would direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue regulations directing manufacturers to annually prepare a water quality report for bottled water products. Information printed on bottled water labels would explain how consumers could obtain these reports upon request.
A news release from bill sponsor Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) said the “Bottled Water Quality Information Act” (H.R. 4978) would create a “national, uniform bottled water labeling standard” that would reduce confusion arising from current “contradictory state labeling requirements.” The bill would give the FDA 18 months to propose regulations calling for bottled water quality reports that include information on the water’s source, the primary processing and treatment methods used by the bottler, and microbiological, physical, chemical and radiological quality test results. The proposed regulations would also require bottled water labels to provide directions on how customers may access these reports.
H.R. 4978 would not broadly affect municipal drinking water utilities, but the FDA regulations called for in the bill would appear to apply to any water utility that bottles and distributes its own water for branding or promotional purposes. AMWA does not have data on the number of metropolitan water systems that bottle and distribute their own water, but any utility that does so is asked to contact AMWA’s Dan Hartnett to discuss how the bill could affect them.
H.R. 4978 has four cosponsors and has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. There is currently no companion bill in the Senate.