ONLINE TOOL PRESENTS HYDRATION GUIDELINES FOR CONSUMERS
IBWA Hydration Calculator Provides Helpful Information

ALEXANDRIA, VA - While many Americans will be firing up barbeques and attending family picnics this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer also brings searching for ways to stay cool, refreshed, and adequately hydrated. But does the average American know how much water to consume to avoid dehydration?

To help individuals meet their personal hydration goals, the International Bottled Water Association has a hydration calculator available on its website at http://www.bottledwater.org. This calculator is an interactive tool based on expert resources and the most current findings of the National Academy of Sciences, as reported in its February 2004 report, "Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate." IBWA's Hydration Calculator provides helpful suggestions about an individual's total fluid intake derived from both beverages and food, and other information about water's vital role in refreshment, health and hydration.

While adequate hydration is important for all individuals, water is an excellent choice for consumers who wish to avoid or moderate calories, caffeine, sugar or the various ingredients found in other beverages. Also, bottled water is an excellent convenience beverage choice for people on the go.

Bottled water is fully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a packaged food product. Like all food products, bottled water is subject to FDA's extensive food safety and labeling requirements. In addition to federal and state regulations for bottled water, members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) must adhere to even stricter measures through the IBWA Bottled Water Model Code of Practice, which are standards that raise the bar for bottled water quality.

To use the IBWA Hydration Calculator, visit http://www.bottledwater.org/public/hydratio_main.htm.

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The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters. Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high quality bottled water products. Additionally, IBWA requires member bottlers to adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices, that in some cases, are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Model Code is an annual unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third party organization. For more information about IBWA, bottled water and a list of member's brands, please contact IBWA Manager of Communications Tom Gardner at 703-647-4607 or tgardner@bottledwater.org.