Longview Water vs. Bottled Water

Longview Water is regulated by Texas Commission Environmental Quality Environmental Protection Agency

• City water cannot have confirmed E. coli or fecal Coliform bacteria.
• City water is both filtered and disinfected.
• Any violation of our City drinking water standards is grounds for enforcement.
• City water department must have our water tested by certified labs.
• City tap water results must be reported to state or federal officials.
• City water system operators must be certified.
• City Water Department must issue consumer confidence reports annually.
• City water costs only pennies a day.
• City water contains essential nutrients for the body such as calcium and iron.
• Chlorine residual exists in City water to prevent bacteria growth.

Bottled Water is regulated by Food and Drug Administration and its own standards:

• International Bottled Water Association
• Industry regulations allow for a certain amount of any bacteria.
• Bottled water has no federal filtration or disinfection requirements.
• Bottled water in violation of standards can still be sold.
• Such certified lab testing is not required for bottlers.
• There are no reporting requirements for bottlers.
• Bottled water plant operators do not have to be certified.
• There are no public right-to-know requirements for bottlers.
• Bottled water costs $.80 to $4.00 per gallon.
• Natural minerals are removes by filtration from bottled water.
• No disinfectant present to kill bacteria in bottles.