(a) As a condition of licensure, each bottled water plant, which has the same meaning as the definition in subdivision (c) of Section 111070, shall annually prepare a bottled water report and shall, upon request, make that report available to each customer.
(b) The report shall be prepared in English, Spanish, and in the appropriate languages for each non-English-speaking group other than Spanish that exceeds 10 percent of the state’s population.
(c) For purposes of complying with this section, when bottled water comes from a municipal source, the relevant information from the consumer confidence report or water quality report prepared for that year by the public water system pursuant to Section 116470 may be used.
(d) The bottled water report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) The source of the bottled water, consistent with applicable state and federal regulations.
(2) A brief and plainly worded definition of the terms “statement of quality,” “maximum contaminant level,” “primary drinking water standard,” and “public health goal.”
(3) A brief description of the treatment process.
(4) A reference to the United States Food and Drug Administration Internet Web site that provides product recall information.
(5) The bottled water company’s address and telephone number that enables customers to obtain further information concerning contaminants and potential health effects.
(6) Information on the levels of unregulated substances, if any, for which water bottlers are required to monitor pursuant to state or federal law or regulation.
(7) (A) The following statement:
“Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the United States Food and Drug Administration, Food and Cosmetic Hotline (1-888-723-3366).”
(B) If the telephone number for the United States Food and Drug Administration, Food and Cosmetic Hotline changes, the statement shall be updated to reflect the new telephone number.
(8) The following statement:
“Some persons may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, including, but not limited to, persons with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, persons with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly persons, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These persons should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).”
(9) The following statement:
“The sources of bottled water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water naturally travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it can pick up naturally occurring substances as well as substances that are present due to animal and human activity.
Substances that may be present in the source water include any of the following:
(1) Inorganic substances, including, but not limited to, salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or result from farming, urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, or oil and gas production.
(2) Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
(3) Organic substances that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems.
(4) Microbial organisms that may come from wildlife, agricultural livestock operations, sewage treatment plants, and septic systems.
(5) Substances with radioactive properties that can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.”
(10) The following statement:
“In order to ensure that bottled water is safe to drink, the United States Food and Drug Administration and the State Department of Public Health prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by bottled water companies.”
(11) (A) The following statement, if nitrate (NO3) levels above 23 ppm but below 45 ppm (the maximum contaminant level for nitrate (NO3)) are detected:
“Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 45 mg/L is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. These nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in a serious illness. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 45 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, including, but not limited to, pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask advice from your health care provider.”
(B) If the nitrate disclosure requirements for municipal water suppliers are revised by the State Department of Public Health, this statement shall be updated to reflect the revision.
(12) (A) The following statement, if arsenic levels above 5 ppb, but below 10 ppb (the maximum contaminant level for arsenic), are detected:
“Arsenic levels above 5 ppb and up to 10 ppb are present in your drinking water. While your drinking water meets the current EPA standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic. The standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the costs of removing arsenic from drinking water. The State Department of Public Health continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects, including, but not limited to, skin damage and circulatory problems.”
(B) If the arsenic disclosure requirements for municipal water suppliers are revised by the State Department of Public Health, this statement shall be updated to reflect the revision.
(13) A full disclosure of any exemption or variance that has been granted to the bottler by the State Department of Public Health, including an explanation of reasons for each exemption or variance and the date of the exemption or variance.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 179, Sec. 155. Effective January 1, 2009.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018