International Bottled Water Association | MEDIA RELEASE | January 15, 2016
Bottled water industry provides clean, safe drinking water to Flint, MI, residents affected by contaminated water supplies
Alexandria, VA – The members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) continue to deliver bottled water to residents of Flint, Michigan, who have been facing an ongoing crisis due to contaminated public drinking water supplies. As with other emergency situations and disasters, IBWA member bottlers have been responding to provide substantial supplies of bottled water to those affected.
“Working in coordination with the state, county, and municipal emergency management agencies; and emergency relief partners, IBWA’s members have so far supplied several hundred thousand gallons of clean and safe bottled water to Flint area residents,” said Chris Hogan, IBWA vice president of communications. However, this figure captures only what member companies have so far reported; the actual amount of bottled water supplied to relief efforts is likely much larger. “Our industry will continue to provide bottled water as needed to the ongoing efforts,” said Hogan.
“Having access to safe, clean drinking water is important to everyone’s survival, but this becomes paramount when municipal supplies are compromised. During these times, bottled water is a necessary and reliable option to deliver clean, safe drinking water,” said Hogan.
The bottled water industry has always been at the forefront of relief efforts during emergencies, natural disasters, and other catastrophic events. Throughout the years, bottled water companies have immediately responded to the need for clean water after disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, wildfires, and flooding.
Emergency preparedness guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommend that all households maintain an emergency supply of water — at least one gallon per person per day for three days — for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. The DHS guidelines specifically recommend that consumers purchase commercially bottled water.
To learn more about bottled water, please visit IBWA’s website at www.bottledwater.org.
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Media Contact:
Jill Culora
jculora@bottledwater.org
703.647.4609
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. 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, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must 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 Bottled Water Code of Practice is a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.
