DAILY SUN, Shopper 28 Mar 2008 Page 2
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Water works

HOW TO CHOOSE BOTTLED WATER There are three main types of botfied water. ? The first is natural spring water, which must say where the water comes from. It may not be changed in anyway and must say on the bottle what minerals are in it. ? The second category is water of origin.
It must say where the water comes from.
Because it can come from anywhere, it must say on the bottle that it?s from either rainwater, a river or other natural source, but may not come from a municipal source.
This water can be treated for anti-microbial (micro-organisms) or a light filter, but By ARNOLD KIRKBY THERE was a time in South Africa where bottled water was only served in posh restaurants.
But how things have changed! Last veal? SA poured about 348 MILLION LITRES of water from plastic or glass bottles down their throats. Everybody is drinking it as part of a growing health awareness in the country.
Travelling around the country we can see this trend will grow. if municipalities, especially rural ones like Delmas dont get their act together and start purifying water properly so as to not allow diseases to spread.
To be fair, most towns and all cities in South Africa still have very good water. but in some places the taste of chlorine is a lot stronger than others and that plays havoc when You use it in your brandy or whisky.
Bottled \vater has gI-own steadily since it started becoming a real category in the local market in the early 1990s. It has now blossomed into a major part of the non-alcoholic beverage market.
The government last year brought in legislation to govern the bottled water market, which was welcomed by the South African National Bottled Water Association, which represents about 80 of all producers of bottled water.
The major producers are Coca-Cola with its Valpre and Bonaqua ranges, as well as Nestl? and Aqualle. and hundreds of smaller. regional bottlers. or own labels used by restaurants and hotels.
SANBWA says where its logo appears on bottles, the public can rest assured that the water is safe and was made in a way which least damages the environment. may not change the structure of the water. ? Third is prepared water. This can come from anywhere, though it must follow strict regulations according to Charlotte Metcalf, in charge of quality control at SANBWA.
She says this redesigned water is treated in such a way that impurities are taken out and minerals added to make it taste yummy.
She emphasized that it was not  just bottled tap water.
She says it is these strict rules which ensure that bottled water in South Africa remains of the highest standard and at the end of the day ? ?it?s the consumer?s choice?.

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