Uncapping the Bottle: A Look Inside the History, Industry, and Regulation of Bottled Water in the United States

Abstract

Since the late twentieth century, the bottled water industry in the United States has been exploding, and more Americans have been choosing bottled water as their preferred beverage. Although much has been written about bottled water in recent years, most of the literature has tackled individual elements of the phenomenon, particularly information on market growth, on the differences between tap water and bottled water, and on the industry’s harmful effects on the environment. This paper attempts to integrate the various data on bottled water and to provide an overview of the more interesting aspects and issues surrounding the product and its burgeoning industry. The paper begins with a brief history of bottled water in the United States, starting with its development in the eighteenth century. It is followed by a review of the current market, the industry trends, and the major corporate players. The subsequent section describes the regulatory scheme that governs bottled water in the U.S., with an emphasis on federal law and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Finally, the paper presents some of the criticisms that have been launched against bottled water and some of the major issues facing the industry today.