Is water really organic?

Antibiotics and anti-convulsants are not what you would expect to find in your $1 bottle of natural spring water. And when you take a gulp of tap water, you also probably would not expect to be sipping on mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

But you probably are — despite your expectations for something promised to be "nothing but pure refreshment," as Pepsi-Cola's Aquafina non-carbonated water claims.

But a recent five-month long investigation by The Associated Press found that pharmaceuticals — including the antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — are present in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.

The Associated Press also reported "the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose." And the water companies believe that makes the water safe for consumers.

Scientists are unsure of the longterm consequences however.

How does it get there?

"People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue."

How does it get into bottled water?

Aquafina and Coca-Cola Co's Dasani are "both made from purified water sourced from public reservoirs" according to a July 27, 2007, report from Reuters. Yes, that's a fancy way to say it's bottled tap water.

So is your water really organic? Well, no one really seems to know.

A question posted on the unscientific Web site Yahoo! Answers received 35 responses from average people who were split between whether it is or it isn't. Here is what some of the posters said:

• "Organic if its not been touched by humans, and inorganic if it has been messed with." — Billy C.

• "Water (H20) is inorganic — made from two elements hydrogen and oxygen. It contains no carbon atoms as organic compounds do. We can find organic matter and critters in our non-sterilized water, and we can find water in organic critters (including our own organs); but pure water is inorganic." — Dr. B

• "It's organic unless its purified and infused with minerals and vitamins that aren't organic. But plain old water is organic (natural and untampered with)." — Boozemuse22
  

The United States Department of Agriculture has declined to rule on allowing water to be certified as organic. So who knows these days?

Here is what professional magicians/comedians Penn and Teller have to say on a part of the water craze:



Until next time, happy eating.