Dasani Bottled Water
1. Where is the original source for this water?
Dasani’s water source comes from local water utility. In addition, some bottling plants manage the protected groundwater source that has to be approved from local authorities (Sourcing our Water).
2. How large/productive/reliable is this source?
Access to tap water is much easier than extracting from natural sources itself and therefore more productive. Local tap water is regulated by the EPA and 90% of the systems meet EPA’s standards (Ground and Drinking Water).
3. Is the Water High Quality? Is it treated to remove contaminants, or to add “enhancements?”
On top of the EPA regulations, it also meets FDA’s regulations for bottled waters. The water first goes through initial water treatment when it enters the plant through several technology then goes into a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration absorbing impurities, chlorine, and odor. After those filtration, it goes through two more water purification processes: reverse osmosis and treated with ultraviolet (UV) light disinfectant (Sourcing our water). Mineralization takes place to add enhancements then it is ozonated as the final step of disinfectant to remove micro contamination (Sourcing our water)
4. Once treated, what does it contain?
After removal of contaminants, a right amount of minerals such as magnesium sulfate, potassium, chloride, and salt is added for fresher taste (Sourcing our water). The final product goes through an analysis that reveals that it contains Radium 228 (.84 PCi/L), Chloride (4.2 mg/L), Nitrate (.62 mg/L), Total dissolved solids (36 mg/L) (Dasani Annual Analysis Example).
5. Is it safe? How do you know? How often is it tested?
All detected contaminants are well below standard quality level. Along the manufacturing process there is always a quality check in each step of the way. Quality check includes annual FDA assessments and additional quality audits from The Coca-Cola Company. Samples are taken regularly after filling, packing, and before distribution. On top of that there is a comprehensive analysis program that uses off the shelf-products to ensure top quality (Sourcing our water).
6. How is the water transported from its source to end consumers?
Since the water comes from municipal sources, it depends on where the bottling plant is located. From the bottling plant, where water is produced and purified, it is also packaged and then distributed to consumers.
7. Does transport requires bottles or other containers? Where do these come from and how are they produced?
Dasani water is mainly transported in bottles sizes ranging from 20oz to 1.5 liters. The latest innovation of Dasani is there water bottles. With an eco-friendly initiative, Dasani has created the “PlantBottle” made from 30% plant-based materials and yet still 100% recyclable (Better bottle by Design).
8. How safe are the containers themselves?
The plastics in the new Dasani PlantBottle is made from 30% sugar-cane based plastic and about 70% polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET like the water itself is regulated by the FDA and is extensively tested for its safety (FAQS: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles).
9. What are the costs to consumers?
Dasani is not too pricey amongst the variety of bottled waters but fact is, it is still more expensive than tap water. Even though the bottle is 100% recyclable, about only 20% of bottles are recycled. However with its innovation of the PlantBottle it uses less petroleum-based plastic which saves some of the world’s resources.
10. What else should people know about choices and trade-offs?
For the security of purified tap water, consumers choose Dasani knowing that it safe to drink with regulations under FDA’s set standards. It goes through series of filtration, purification, mineralization and multiple quality checks to guarantee its fresh taste. On the other hand, regular tap water is much cost efficient and under stricter standards of the EPA.
References:
"Better Bottle by Design." Dasani. The Coca-Cola Company, 15 Oct 2008. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://dasani.com/#/plantbottle>.
"Dasani Annual Analysis Example." Our Quality Process: Dasani Case Study. The Coca-Cola Company, 2008. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/pdf/dasani_analysis.pdf>.
"FAQs: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles." Plasticsinfo.org. American Chemistry Council, Inc., 2010. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.plasticsinfo.org/s_plasticsinfo/sec_level2_faq.asp?CID=705&DID=2839>.
"Groundwater and Drinking Water." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Aug 2009. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/faq.html >.
"Sourcing our Water." Ensuring Quality in Dasani Manufacturing Process. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/flash/csr/dasani/index.html>.
Dasani image:http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/h-wd0409-dasani/582558-1-eng-US/h-wd0409-Dasani.jpg
Dasani’s water source comes from local water utility. In addition, some bottling plants manage the protected groundwater source that has to be approved from local authorities (Sourcing our Water).
2. How large/productive/reliable is this source?
Access to tap water is much easier than extracting from natural sources itself and therefore more productive. Local tap water is regulated by the EPA and 90% of the systems meet EPA’s standards (Ground and Drinking Water).
3. Is the Water High Quality? Is it treated to remove contaminants, or to add “enhancements?”
On top of the EPA regulations, it also meets FDA’s regulations for bottled waters. The water first goes through initial water treatment when it enters the plant through several technology then goes into a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration absorbing impurities, chlorine, and odor. After those filtration, it goes through two more water purification processes: reverse osmosis and treated with ultraviolet (UV) light disinfectant (Sourcing our water). Mineralization takes place to add enhancements then it is ozonated as the final step of disinfectant to remove micro contamination (Sourcing our water)
4. Once treated, what does it contain?
After removal of contaminants, a right amount of minerals such as magnesium sulfate, potassium, chloride, and salt is added for fresher taste (Sourcing our water). The final product goes through an analysis that reveals that it contains Radium 228 (.84 PCi/L), Chloride (4.2 mg/L), Nitrate (.62 mg/L), Total dissolved solids (36 mg/L) (Dasani Annual Analysis Example).
5. Is it safe? How do you know? How often is it tested?
All detected contaminants are well below standard quality level. Along the manufacturing process there is always a quality check in each step of the way. Quality check includes annual FDA assessments and additional quality audits from The Coca-Cola Company. Samples are taken regularly after filling, packing, and before distribution. On top of that there is a comprehensive analysis program that uses off the shelf-products to ensure top quality (Sourcing our water).
6. How is the water transported from its source to end consumers?
Since the water comes from municipal sources, it depends on where the bottling plant is located. From the bottling plant, where water is produced and purified, it is also packaged and then distributed to consumers.
7. Does transport requires bottles or other containers? Where do these come from and how are they produced?
Dasani water is mainly transported in bottles sizes ranging from 20oz to 1.5 liters. The latest innovation of Dasani is there water bottles. With an eco-friendly initiative, Dasani has created the “PlantBottle” made from 30% plant-based materials and yet still 100% recyclable (Better bottle by Design).
8. How safe are the containers themselves?
The plastics in the new Dasani PlantBottle is made from 30% sugar-cane based plastic and about 70% polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET like the water itself is regulated by the FDA and is extensively tested for its safety (FAQS: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles).
9. What are the costs to consumers?
Dasani is not too pricey amongst the variety of bottled waters but fact is, it is still more expensive than tap water. Even though the bottle is 100% recyclable, about only 20% of bottles are recycled. However with its innovation of the PlantBottle it uses less petroleum-based plastic which saves some of the world’s resources.
10. What else should people know about choices and trade-offs?
For the security of purified tap water, consumers choose Dasani knowing that it safe to drink with regulations under FDA’s set standards. It goes through series of filtration, purification, mineralization and multiple quality checks to guarantee its fresh taste. On the other hand, regular tap water is much cost efficient and under stricter standards of the EPA.
References:
"Better Bottle by Design." Dasani. The Coca-Cola Company, 15 Oct 2008. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://dasani.com/#/plantbottle>.
"Dasani Annual Analysis Example." Our Quality Process: Dasani Case Study. The Coca-Cola Company, 2008. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/pdf/dasani_analysis.pdf>.
"FAQs: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles." Plasticsinfo.org. American Chemistry Council, Inc., 2010. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.plasticsinfo.org/s_plasticsinfo/sec_level2_faq.asp?CID=705&DID=2839>.
"Groundwater and Drinking Water." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Aug 2009. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/faq.html >.
"Sourcing our Water." Ensuring Quality in Dasani Manufacturing Process. Web. 28 Apr 2010. <http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/flash/csr/dasani/index.html>.
Dasani image:http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/h-wd0409-dasani/582558-1-eng-US/h-wd0409-Dasani.jpg
