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Cooroy Mountain Spring Water : Education
Ozone Consumer Alert
Ozone to bromate (Consumer Alert: "What's in bottled water?" Australian Consumers' Association, Choice, 4 May 2000):
"…some waters naturally include bromides, which can be converted into bromate by ozonation…Bromate is only one of a number of chemical by-products left behind by ozone and chlorine treatment. Ozonation is a popular way of disinfecting bottled water because it's very effective but, unlike chlorine, it doesn't leave behind a chemical taste or smell."
And too much bromate is definitely not a good thing.
According to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), its many effects include nausea, diarrhoea and central nervous system depression.
As if that’s not bad enough, irreversible effects can include kidney failure and deafness. And bromate is a suspected carcinogen.
It’s all on the label
Independent consultant, Mike Newbold from Queensland Food Solutions says that most of the information consumers need is on the label, including the ABWI symbol which can only be used by members of the Australian Bottled Water Institute Inc.
“ABWI is the Industry Association that lays down high standards for quality before a company can join. ABWI audits its members’ facilities regularly to ensure continued compliance with those standards and it is one way a consumer can be sure that the water they are drinking is of the highest standard,” Mike said.
Then there’s the matter of added chemicals…Mike says that many bottled water companies use Ozone to sterilise water (and bottles).
“Ozone is a highly reactive form of Oxygen that kills micro-organisms and then breaks down quickly in water. Unfortunately it also reacts with the Bromide that is present in some waters to form Bromate which is a poison and a suspected carcinogen and a greenhouse gas.
“Cooroy Mountain Spring Water does not use Ozone, only clean room technology and advanced filtration to remove any bacteria that may be present in bottles to provide the highest quality water,” Mike said.
Finally, Mike can also attest that Cooroy Mountain Spring Water certainly doesn’t use chlorine.
“Tap water has chlorine added to sterilise it. Cooroy Mountain Spring Water has no need to add chlorine as their process delivers clean fresh tasting water,” he said.
Finally, Mikes sets the record straight on the purified verses filtered water products argument.
“Purified or filtered water products are not natural spring water bottled at the source. This type of water is cleaned using methods similar to those to be used in future drinking water recycling processes,” he said.
Is all water the same?…you decide.
| Water |
Description |
Comments |
| Cooroy Mountain Spring Water |
Naturally filtered over centuries through rock and sourced from the protected underground aquifer. |
Bottled at source, no chemicals added. Tested daily. Bacteria free. Contains valuable minerals. Consistent quality. |
| Tap Water |
Inexpensive and readily available in all suburban areas in Australia. Sourced from exposed rivers and lakes. |
Some contaminants commonly found in tap water are Chlorine, Arsenic, Nitrates, weed killer, fertilisers, pesticides, gasoline, oils, sulphate, iron, copper and lead. Bacteria (particularly Ecoli) and parasites (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) are commonly found in tap water. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are carried in animal waste which finds its way into town water supplies. They are not susceptible to chlorine. Tap water travels along pipes which vary in age and state of repair. Inconsistent quality. |
| Water Filters |
Available for jugs, and under sink installation in the home. |
To trap bacteria, the filter size needs to be less than 0.2 microns. The types of filters commonly available for home use do not extract all harmful bacteria from the water. They do trap some bacteria which are then re-injected into the water if the filters are not changed regularly. Inconsistent quality. |
| Tank/Rain Water |
An inexpensive source of water for many rural residents. |
The challenge is protecting rain water from contamination. Bacteria (particularly Ecoli) and parasites, such as Cryposporidium and Giardia are commonly found in tank water. If drinking tank water it is recommended the tank and pipes be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least once per year. Inconsistent quality. |
| Ozone treated water |
O3 is a tasteless disinfectant commonly used by many water bottlers. |
Cooroy Mountain Spring Water does not ozonate our water due to the potentially harmful bi-products produced through its use. |
| Purified Water | Distilled - not commonly available in Australia | Heavy metals and contaminants with a higher boiling point than water are left behind and concentrated. Natural minerals are lost in the process. |
| Processed Bottled Water | Water is distilled and/or micro filtered, then natural minerals are added back to improve taste and health benefits. | Consistent quality if Australasian Bottled Water Institute standards are followed. Look for ABWI logo. |
| Mineral Water | Contains not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. | Consistent quality within brand. |
| Sparkling Water | Naturally carbonised water. | Not commonly available in Australia. Tonic and Soda Water are not classified as sparkling water, but are classified as soft drinks. They contain additives comprising more than one percent by weight. |
* The above table has been compiled from information obtained from respected and credible internet sites including the Australasian Bottled Water Institute (ABWI), International Bottled Water Association, Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code and Australian Consumers’ Association, Choice.
Australasian Bottled Water Institute (ABWI)
An informative Australian-centric web site which covers the lengths that member bottlers of water go to ensure purity and safety and many interesting facts about our bodies and water. This site also links to other interesting sites.
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
This web site has everything you ever wanted to know about water, including health tips and hydration, surveys on drinking habits, cryptosporidium and many other relevant water facts.
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code
The standards that govern Cooroy Mountain Spring Water are related to "Non-alcoholic Beverages & Brewed Soft Drinks" (Standard 2.6.2) and all "Labelling and Other Information Requirements" (Standard 1.2), "Contaminants and Residues" (Standard 1.4), "Microbiological and Processing Requirements" (Standard 1.6) and the Food Safety regulations (Standard 3.1).
www.choice.com.au
For more information about bottled water and other water products visit the Choice website and search 'bottled water'.
What to look for on a water bottle label:
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Water Type - is it purified, filtered or Natural Spring Water
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ABWI symbol
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Ozone Free symbol
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HACCP symbol
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Recycled symbol
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Product of Australia
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