Bottled Water Industry Sees Growth in 2006

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), today released bottled water statistics for the year 2006, compiled by BMC. These numbers show that U.S. bottled water sales and consumption continue to rise, with the latest upward trend reflected in 2006 when total bottled water volume exceeded 8.25 billion gallons, a 9.5 percent increase over 2005, and the 2006 bottled water per capita consumption level of 27.6 gallons increased by over two gallons, from 25.4 gallons per capita the previous year.

Additionally, the wholesale dollar sales for bottled water exceeded$10.8 billion in 2006, an 8.5 percent increase over the $10 billion in2005. These statistics demonstrate continued consumer demand and appreciation for the convenience and good taste of bottled water brands consumed on-the-go, during exercise, at restaurants or meetings, and at home or the office, according to the association. However, consumers should also know that bottled watersafety and quality result from multiple layers of regulation and standards at the federal, state and industry levels, the association says.

Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) as a packaged food product, and has issued standards for safety, quality, production, labeling, and identity. Along with the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which are required of all foods, bottled water must comply with several other applicable regulations, including Standards of Identity, Standards of Quality and additional, specific bottled water GMPs. Being a packaged food product,bottled water is also bound by the Nutrition Labeling Education Act (NLEA) and the full range of FDA protective measures designed to enforce productsafety and protect consumers, the water association says. States also regulate bottled waterinspections, sampling, analyzing and approving bottled water sources, it adds.

"While all beverages have their role in a marketplace with an abundance of drink choices," says Stephen Kay, IBWA vice president of communications, "consumers are choosing bottled water as a refreshing, hydrating beverage and as an alternative to others that may contain calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial colors, alcohol or other ingredients,which they wish to moderate or avoid. For instance, during 2006, individual servings of bottled water in sizes of 1.5 liters and smaller accounted for 57.1% of the volume of bottled water sold, indicating that consumers are choosing bottled water in lieu of other bottled drinks."

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