In my previous article, I talked about the benefits of carrying our own water as opposed to buying bottled water off the shelves. Then I saw this study done on several well-known brands of bottled water in Canada.

According to the researchers from Ccrest Laboratories in Montreal, more than 70 percent of the random samples examined contained heterotrophic bacteria that exceeded the levels recommended in the US. In some bottles, the levels of
heterotrophic bacteria were one hundred times more than the permitted limit.

The US Food & Drug Administration as well as Health Canada do not currently have any imposed limit on heterotrophic bacteria count in bottled water. So the research authors used the guideline specified by the US Pharmacopeia as a benchmark which states that no more than 500 colony forming units (cfu) should be present in drinking water.

All samples used in the study were collected from bottled water manufactured within the first few weeks of their manufacturing date. And guess what? The project was initiated not so much for monetary reasons (it was self-funded by Ccrest), but out of researchers' innate thirst for truth. It started when one of the staff drank bottled water at the company and complained of foul taste and sickness. The work was presented at the 110th Annual Meeting of American Society of Microbiologists.

But what exactly are heterotrophic bacteria and are they dangerous to our health? In layman terms, they simply refer to microorganisms that feed on organic compounds, as opposed to those that make their own food through photosynthesis or other processes. In the case of bottled water, heterotrophic microbes can grow and multiply by just feeding on the dissolved carbon and nitrogen present in the water.

Since bottled water can stay on the shelves for as long as two years before they expire, the amount of bacteria in a bottle water could likely increase to a level that is higher than that recorded in this study if it has been left on the shelf for months.

Heterotrophic bacteria are generally non-pathogenic and harmless. But scientists are still unclear about their impact on human health when they occur in large numbers. They may also pose a higher risk to those who are pregnant and whose immune system are immature or compromised, as in the case of young children, as well as cancer and HIV patients.

The report questioned "the safety of common public who consumes unknown mysterious microorganisms in water" and ended with a call for a "comprehensive regulations on bottled water industry in the public interest". While it's highly unlikely that we will see comprehensive regulations taking place any time soon, you can help yourself today by simply making a few smart lifestyle choices:

1. Carry your own water with a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. Nowadays, recyclable stainless steel water bottles as well as BPA-free plastic ones come in many stylish designs and prints to suit any preferences. You can even personalize water bottles for one-of-a-kind design!

2. If you're traveling or living in a country or region that has no access to safe portable water, invest in a water filter  that you can afford. There are different types of water filtration technologies to suit different needs, including water bottles that come with replaceable water filters that are as good as faucet-based water filters.

3. If you buy bottled water in preparation for emergencies, consider other water-cleaning options like tablets and portable water filters, such as Lifesaver, that can produce clean drinkable water from most water without requiring you to stock up on bottled water.