Title:
Experiments in Bottled Water Quality: Price vs. Purity
Name:
Lanita Aslinger
Position:
Undergraduate, Department of Biology
Location:
Tennessee Tech University
Cookeville, TN 38505
Key Words: bottled water, purity, quality
Table of Content:
Project Summary
……………………………………………………..
Introduction Background
……………………………………………..
Methods and Materials
……………………………………………….
Expected Results/Benefits
……………………………………………
Project Timelines
……………………………………………………..
Resume ………………………………………………………………..
Literature Cited
……………………………………………………….
Budget
…………………………………………………………………
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Project Summary:
The objective of this research is to determine the nutritional value of different bottled
waters with an emphasis on their price differences. A variety of tests including pH,
Alkalinity, Total Dissolved Solutes, and Calcium and Chlorine content will be conducted
on the bottled waters. The expected results are that the most expensive bottled water will
not be of a better quality than its less expensive competitor.
Introduction:
There are various types of bottled waters on the market today. “Over the past few years
the displays of bottled water in supermarkets and other retail outlets have grown to
occupy anywhere from a single shelf up to one complete aisle . . .” (Thurman, et al.,
2002). In fact, “Sales of non-carbonated bottled and canned beverages in convenience
stores have been increasing at a rate faster than those of traditional ‘core’ beverages, beer
and soda pop” (Fucini, 1993). Therefore, a consumer is often misled into believing that
nutritional value has a direct effect on the price of the individual bottled water.
According to The Western Journal of Medicine, “Americans drink 4 billion gallons of
bottled water a year.” However, the World Wildlife Fund stated that “Bottled water
claims to purity are bogus” (Earth Island Institute, 2001) and “1997 tests showed that
several widely used brands contained significant amounts of bacteria, arsenic, and
volatile organic chemicals” (Macht, 1999). This can lead to mass confusion on which
water is most nutritional and still within your budget.
Hypothesis:
Name brand bottled waters of varying classifications (i.e.Spring, Purified, Distilled) are
not of better quality than discount store brands of the same classification.
Methods and Materials:
One gallon of each of the following types of bottled water will be used: Crystal Spring
Water, Crystal Purified Water, Crystal Distilled Water, Great Value Spring Water, Great
Value Purified Water, and Great Value Distilled Water. Each individual water is to be
tested for contents of Calcium and Chlorine as well as pH, Alkalinity, and Total
Dissolved Solute. The following data chart will be used.
DATA FORM
Experiments in Bottled Water Quality: Price vs. Purity
Product
Name
Price
Source
Crystal
Spring
Water
$0.88
Spring; Blue
Ridge, GA
Crystal
Purified
Water
$0.84
Crystal
Distilled
Water
$0.88
Municipal
Water
Supply;
Mableton,
GA
Municipal
Water
Supply;
Mableton,
GA
Great
Value
Spring
Water
Great
Value
Purified
Water
$0.58
Great
Value
Distilled
Water
$0.58
$0.58
Naturalle
Springs;
Greenville,
TN
Municipal
Water
Supply;
Greenville,
TN
Municipal
Water
Supply;
Greenville,
TN
Calcium
pH
Alkalinity
Chlorine
Total Dissolved
Solute
Expected Results:
The contents of the bottled waters will not vary by a significant amount, thus proving that
purity of the water is not what effects the price.
Project Timeline:
The various bottled waters were purchased at the same time. Also, the tests will be
conducted simultaneously.
Resume:
OBJECTIVE
[ Type Objective Here ]
EDUCATION
Currently Attending
[ City, State ]
Wildlife Science
Jan. 2001-June 2002
Tennessee Technological University
Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Aug. 2000-Dec. 2000
Middle Tennessee State University
1996-2000
Sale Creek High School
INTERESTS AND ACTIVI TIES
Wildlife rehabilitation, horseback riding, outdoor activities
WORK EXPERIENCE
May 2002-Aug. 2002
[ City, State ]
Assistant teacher, substitute
Feb. 2001- May 2002
Sales Associate, Fish-room personnel
May 2000- Aug.2000
Kennel attendant
Primrose School
Hixson, TN
Pet Care Warehouse
Hixson, TN
South Rhea Animal Hospital
Dayton, TN
HOBBIES
Music, hiking, photography
REFERENCES
Billie Holland
423-332-3067
Sale Creek, TN
Doug Varner
423-332-8819
Sale Creek, TN
Stephen Lewis
423-332-8820
Sale Creek, TN
Literature Cited:
British Medical Association. 2000. capsule. (holiday weight gain; teenage traffic
accidents; bottled water purity; dietary fat and seizure frequency). The Western
Journal of Medicine 172:359.
Earth Island Institute. 2001. Bottled Water? Feh!. Earth Island Journal 16:17.
Fucini, Suzy. 1993. Without the fizz, they create a splash. U.S. Distribution Journal 220:16.
Macht, Hilary. 1999. Bottled hype? The Amicus Journal 21:7.
Thurman, Robert B., Athanassios A Athanasopoulos, Michail S. Allan, Sarah M. Atchia. 2002.
Bottle Wars: England versus Scotland versus France. International Journal of Food
Sciences and Nutrition 53.
Budget:
Proposed Budget
Category
Salaries & Wages
Professional
Technician
Secretarial
Graduate Student(2)
Student Hourly
Subtotal
First Year
$22,000
$ 18,000
$ 12,000
$ 10,000
$5.00/hr
$ 80,000
Benefits
$ 25,000
$25,000
Travel
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
Non-Expendables
$ 10,000
$10,000
Expendables
Computer
Supplies & Expenses
Copying & Telephone
Tuition & Fees
Subtotal
$
$
$
$
$
$
10,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
10,000
35,000
$10,000
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
$ 5,000
$10,000
$35,000
Total Direct Costs
$ 45,000
$45,000
Indirect Costs
$ 30,000
$30,000
Total Costs
$195,000
$195,000
Second Year
$22,000
$18,000
$12,000
$10,000
$5.00/hr
$80,000
Research Proposal
Researcher: Lanita Aslinger
Biology 3920
Dr. Eric Morgan