How much do you know about your bottled water?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new study says consumers do not have all the facts about bottled water. Indeed there are certain questions you need to ask.

“As consumers, we need to be more aware of that, and concerned,” bottled water drinker Sherry Richardson said.

The Environmental Working Group, or EWG, agrees, which is why it released a study that graded bottled water on how much information is available to the public. EWG analyzed the labels and websites of 173 bottled water products to see how much information the companies listed about where the water comes from, how or if the water is treated, and if results of a purity test are revealed.

Of the bottled water examined, three brands, Gerber Pure Purified Water, Nestle Pure Life Purified Water and Penta Ultra-Purified Water, earned the highest possible marks for the amount of information they had available.

On the other hand, six brands, Whole Foods Italian Still Mineral Water, Vintage Natural Spring Water, Sahara Premium Drinking Water, O Water Sport Electrolyte Enhanced Purified Drinking Water, Market Basket Natural Spring Water and Cumby’s Spring Water, had the worst marks, because they do not provide consumers with any of the fundamental information on their label or website.

Richardson said she drinks bottled water regularly, and she has never questioned it.

“We do usually buy bottled water, because I prefer the taste of it, and for some reason I feel like it’s better for my granddaughter for her to have it, but I’ve never really investigated or researched it,” Richardson said.

Many bottled water drinkers may be wondering, how does my bottled water compare? The EWG graded the 10 top-selling US brands, and grades range from Bs to Ds.

Filtered tap water received an A, because EWG says if you change the filter regularly it’s purer.

Shopper Grace Silva said she does not trust the tap water, regardless of what the EWG says.

“I’m not sure it’s purified, and I think the water that you buy in the bottle is safer,” Silva said.

The Enviromental Working Group says of the 173 bottled water brands they examined, the less popular brands rank even lower than the top sellers.