The high price of many bottled waters can make budget-friendly options like Great Value an appealing choice for daily hydration. As a store brand offered by a major retailer, Great Value water is widely accessible and consistently one of the lowest-priced options on the shelf. This low cost, however, often sparks consumer concern, leading many to question whether they are sacrificing safety or quality for savings. The central question is whether Great Value bottled water is genuinely safe to drink, requiring an examination of the regulatory environment, purification methods, and potential issues from plastic packaging.
Regulatory Oversight for Bottled Water
Bottled water, unlike municipal tap water, is regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), falling under federal regulations (21 CFR Part 165). Conversely, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets safety standards for public drinking water systems. The FDA requires that bottled water standards must meet or exceed the EPA’s standards for contaminants, including strict limits for inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and microbiological elements.
Bottled water facilities must also comply with the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs). These practices cover the entire bottling process, from water collection and processing to packaging and storage. Regular inspections and mandatory quality testing are part of this regulatory framework, ensuring a baseline of safety for all commercially sold bottled water, regardless of the brand’s price point.
Understanding Great Value Water Sources and Processing
Great Value water is typically categorized as “purified drinking water,” a designation referring to the treatment it undergoes rather than its original source. This water often originates from a municipal source, essentially starting as local tap water. The source is less significant because the purification process is designed to remove nearly all impurities, regardless of the initial water quality.
Purification is a multi-step process utilizing advanced technologies to meet FDA standards. Key steps include carbon filtration, which removes chlorine and improves taste, and reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to strip away dissolved solids, minerals, and other contaminants.
Following filtration, the water receives a final layer of disinfection to eliminate remaining pathogens. This typically involves treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light and ozonation, which uses ozone gas as a powerful sanitizer. The result is highly consistent water, free of most minerals, providing assurance of safety for the consumer.
Potential Contaminants from Packaging
The primary safety concerns with any bottled water relate to the plastic packaging itself. Most single-use bottles are constructed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), designated with recycling code #1. While PET is considered safe by regulatory bodies, it is not entirely inert, leading to concerns about chemical migration and microplastic contamination.
Chemical leaching occurs when compounds from the plastic transfer into the water, a process accelerated by heat and prolonged storage. Antimony, a heavy metal used as a catalyst in PET production, can leach into the water. Studies show that storing PET bottles in warm environments, such as a hot car or direct sunlight, significantly increases antimony migration.
A modern concern involves the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics. Research indicates that microplastic contamination is widespread across virtually all bottled water brands, not just budget ones. These particles are believed to enter the water primarily during the bottling process, through friction on the production line, or from the bottle cap material.
Nanoplastics, which are even smaller than microplastics, have been found in bottled water at concentrations significantly higher than previously thought. The health effects of consuming these tiny plastic particles are still under investigation. While Great Value bottles are typically BPA-free, the overall issue of plastic contamination remains a general consideration for all consumers of bottled water.
How Consumers Can Verify Bottled Water Quality
Consumers can take several steps to maintain the safety and verify the quality of their bottled water. The most immediate action is to examine the product’s label, which must state the water type, such as “purified drinking water” or “spring water,” and the source. This information helps the consumer understand the product’s origin and the degree of processing it has undergone.
Proper storage is crucial for mitigating the risk of chemical leaching from the PET plastic. Bottles should always be stored in a cool, dark location, away from direct sunlight or extreme heat. Limiting the duration of storage is also helpful, as chemical migration increases over time.
For more detailed information, consumers can request a water quality report from the manufacturer or retailer. Since Great Value is a private label brand, the retailer can provide contact information for the bottling company. This company maintains detailed testing records and provides specific data on contaminant levels, demonstrating compliance with safety standards.