Quality of bottled water: myth or reality?

In Europe, among the countries with the highest sales of this type of product are Germany, Italy, France and Spain, with the highest consumption being 200 L/person annually. 

Currently, bottled water is not limited to drinking; it is also utilized for preparing infant formula as well as other medical and sanitary device cleaning uses, given this perception of superior safety. 

However, this may not be entirely true, as it has been shown in multiple research studies that bottled water is not actually superior in quality to tap water. 

Microbiological hazards in bottled water 

In France, it has recently been discovered that major bottled water companies have for years used non-permitted purification techniques and products that do not comply with previously established regulations, especially in terms of bacterial and/or chemical contamination. 

 
This is concerning because, according to reports, one-third of the brands sold in the country are involved in these practices, which means that the scope of the risk to consumers' health would be extensive. 

The main microbiological hazards that can be found in bottled water are Escherichia coli and intestinal Enterococci. In addition, pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been found to be particularly dangerous due to their ability to form biofilms inside and on the bottom of the bottles, as well as on the cap, thanks to the small amounts of organic compounds present in the water.