GUZZLING BOTTLED WATER.

Byline: Marilynn Marter Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

Americans consumed an average of 9.7 gallons each of bottled water in 1994, nearly double the five gallons each reported in 1985. In wholesale dollars, sales tripled - from $937 million in 1984 to nearly $3 billion in 1994.

Californians guzzle 30 percent of all that bottled water, including both delivered and store-bought varieties. Florida and New York have the next highest consumption rates. Pennsylvania comes in eighth.

There are about 375 bottling facilities in the United States, producing more than 600 brands. And an estimated 75 brands are imported.

What's going on here?

Although more than 60 percent of bottled-water drinkers say they're motivated by taste, safety is an increasing concern in some communities and for some individuals who worry about contamination of public supplies.

And manufacturers certainly are riding the wave of health-consciousness.

One taste factor is chlorine, the federally approved disinfectant that most cities add to water supplies. The swimming-pool odor of chlorinated water has persuaded many Americans to switch to commercial waters.

The International Bottled Water Association - which represents 85 percent of the industry - uses random inspections to ensure that its members meet or exceed U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for the waters. Those requirements conform to limits set for public drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The bottled-water association has lobbied the FDA to enforce tighter bottled-water regulations to achieve industrywide compliance and eliminate bottlers who are marketing products inferior to tap water. Look for the association's seal, or that of the National Sanitation Foundation, on water labels.

At the very least, you want your bottle to indicate its adherence to FDA standards or to provide a telephone number you can call for more detailed information. The FDA conducts its own inspections and earmarks any troublesome company for more frequent testing.

According to the bottled-water association, water is called ``bottled water'' if it meets all federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and sold for human consumption.

Some bottled water includes carbonation, which can be present naturally or be added by the bottler. Flavors, extracts and essences - derived from spice or fruit - can be added to bottled water, but these additions must make up less than 1 percent by weight of the final product.

Beverages containing more than the 1-percent-by-weight flavor limit are soft drinks, not bottled water. Seltzers, tonic water and club soda also are considered soft drinks.

Bottled water cannot contain sweeteners or additives - other than flavors, extracts or essences - and must be calorie-free. In addition, most bottled waters are sodium-free or include ``very low'' amounts of sodium.

The better water-bottlers will be specific about the geographic source of the water.

In any case, the FDA has new requirements pending for how a manufacturer can describe its product.

For example, ``spring water'' would be classified as coming only from underground sources, with the water flowing naturally to the surface.

``Mineral water'' would have to derive from geologically and physically protected underground sources.

``Artesian water'' would be only water drawn from a well that taps a water-bearing rock, rock formation or group of rocks.

And ``nursery water'' would have to indicate whether it is sterile.