JB Water Distillers

Bottled water products are normally categorized according to the source of the water and the
methods used by the bottler to treat it.

Bottled water products are generally required to undergo disinfection. Bottlers who obtain water from a
source that has not previously been disinfected, such as a spring or well, usually use ozone or ultraviolet to
disinfect the water, as these processes do not normally leave a residual taste or odor in the water. Bottled water companies can also purchase their source water from an approved potable water source, such as a municipal water supply. Some bottled water companies choose to further treat their products, using treatment processes such as filtration, reverse osmosis or distillation.

Although federal laws do not require the bottler to list any
naturally occurring compounds on the product label, such as
sulfates or sodium, any ingredients added to the bottled water must
be stated on the label. Any naturally occurring or added ingredients
cannot exceed the maximum levels permitted by the applicable
federal or state regulations.

Standards of Identity
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established “Standards
of Identity” for bottled water sold in the U.S. Below are several
common identities:

Artesian Water – originates from a confined aquifer that has been
tapped and in which the water level stands at some height above the
top of the aquifer.

Fluoridated – contains fluoride added within FDA limitations.
May be labeled as “For Infants” or “Nursery.”

Mineral Water – naturally contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS). No minerals
may be added to this water.

Purified Water – is produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes.
It meets the definition of “purified water” in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Spring Water – comes from an underground formation from which water flows naturally
to the Earth’s surface.

While no federal regulations exist for residential water treatment devices, there are several voluntary national standards that establish minimum requirements for the safety and performance of products used to treat home drinking water. These standards are generally divided according to the technology used by the product. The numbers assigned to each standard reflect the order in which the standards were developed.

Below are the standards and the type of technology each covers, along with a description of the purpose or intended function of the technology.

Adsorption/Filtration (NSF/ANSI 42 & 53)
This process occurs when liquids, gases, dissolved or suspended matter adheres to the surface of, or in the pores of, an adsorbent media. Carbon filters would be an example of this type of product.

Softeners (NSF/ANSI 44)
These systems incorporate a cation exchange resin that is regenerated with sodium or potassium chloride. The softener reduces calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium or potassium ions.

Ultraviolet Treatment (NSF/ANSI 55)
These systems use ultraviolet light to disinfect water (Class A systems) or to reduce the amount of non disease causing bacteria in water (Class B).

Reverse Osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58)
A process that uses reverse pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane. Most reverse osmosis systems incorporate additional filters along with the membrane itself.

Distillers (NSF/ANSI 62)
These systems heat water to the boiling point, and then collect the water vapor as it condenses, leaving behind contaminants such as heavy metals. Some contaminants that convert readily into gases, such as volatile organic chemicals, can carry over with the water vapor.

Shower Filters (NSF/ANSI 177)