New York State Bottled and Bulk Water Program 2006 Annual Report

New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Water Supply Protection
Bottled and Bulk Water Program
2006 Annual Report

Purpose

The Bottled and Bulk Water Program 2006 Annual Report is a summary of those 2006 certification program activities under the purview of Section 225(u) of the Public Health Law (PBH) of the Laws of New York. The standards for bottled and bulk water facilities are contained in Subpart 5-6, Bottled and Bulk Water Standards, of the State Sanitary Code. Subpart 5-6 requires that all bottled or bulk water sold, offered for sale or delivered for human consumption, food preparation, or culinary purposes be certified by the New York State Department of Health (Department).

Certification

Initial certification of bottled and bulk water requires the submission of the following items:

  • an engineering drawing for the source site and bottling facility;
  • a detailed engineering report outlining sanitization, maintenance and operational procedures;
  • samples of product labels;
  • water quality data;
  • product samples; and
  • an inspection report.

To be eligible for recertification, bottled and bulk water facilities must submit the following on an annual basis:

  • current water quality analyses for each source and finished product;
  • a current inspection report;
  • labels used for distribution in New York State;
  • a completed questionnaire; and
  • disinfection waiver documentation (if applicable) annually to be eligible for renewal (see Bottled or Bulk FAQs).

In 2006, 4 bottled water facilities and 2 bulk water facilities received initial certification to sell, offer for sale or deliver for human consumption, food preparation, or culinary purposes their products in New York State. By the end of 2006, the total number of bottled and bulk water facilities certified by the Department reached 205. Of these 205 certified bottled/bulk water facilities, 76 are located in New York State, 95 are located out-of-state and 34 are located in foreign countries.

2006 Bottled and Bulk Water Certifications
Certification TypeFacility LocationBottled WaterBulk HaulersTotals
InitialWithin NYS134
Out of State (within USA)303
Out of Country202
Initial Certification Total639
RenewalWithin NYS294372
Out of State (within USA)702292
Out of Country30232
Renewal of Certification Total12967196

Uncertified Bottled and Bulk Water in New York State

As required under Subpart 5-6.2, "No person shall sell, offer for sale or deliver bottled or bulk water for human consumption, food preparation, or culinary purposes unless certified by the Commissioner in accordance with the requirements of this Subpart". Therefore, after the Department is notified that facilities are illegally selling and/or distributing bottled and/or bulk water in New York State, the Department requires the facility to cease their activities of selling and/or distributing their product in New York State until they have obtained the necessary certification. Accordingly, the Department sends a letter to each uncertified bottled or bulk water facility stating that they must cease and desist from selling, offering for sale and delivering their bottled and/or bulk water in New York State as well as instruct their offices, branches and distributors to remove all the bottled water products from the New York State market.

In 2006, 11 bottled water companies were notified by the Department that they were not certified to sell, distribute, and/or offer for sale bottled water products in New York State. 3 bulk water haulers were notified by the Department that they were not certified to sell or distribute potable water in New York State and that all bulk hauling for human consumption, food preparation or culinary purposes within New York State must cease.

Decertifications

In 2006, the Department decertified 27 bottled and bulk water facilities and were instructed to withhold from selling, offering for sale or delivering bottled or bulk water in New York State, for human consumption, food preparation or culinary purposes. The majority of decertifications resulted from bottled or bulk water facilities failing to submit complete documentation in order to be eligible for recertification.

Distribution

In 2006, 205 certified bottled water facilities reported, that of the approximately 2,345,667,918 total gallons they produced during 2005, approximately 275,024,948 gallons were distributed to New York State. This distribution is an aggregate of several product types including but not limited to: well, spring, mineral, carbonated, distilled, deionized, drinking, and sparkling waters. In 2006, certified bulk water haulers reported that approximately 226,647,628 gallons of potable drinking water was distributed in New York State.

NOTE: 2006 production numbers will be reported in 2007.

Inspections

An annual inspection must be made of each bottled and bulk water facility. The inspection may be conducted by the New York State Department of Health, local county health department or district office, or by a third party approved by the Department. Out-of-state bottling facilities must provide certification from the appropriate regulatory agency of the state or country having jurisdiction over the bottling operation, indicating that the facility has been inspected and approved to bottle or package water for human consumption. Annual inspection of facilities consists of sampling and an evaluation of the source, bottling and treatment processes, sanitation and maintenance procedures as well as compliance with good manufacturing practices.

Monitoring

Annual Requirements

New York State certified bottled and bulk water facilities are required to monitor for organic chemical, inorganic chemical and radiological analyses, on an annual basis, for each source and finished product type. All monitoring required by Subpart 5-6 of the State Sanitary Code must be conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department's Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP).

Monthly Requirements

New York State certified bottled and bulk water facilities are required to monitor, on a monthly basis, microbiological analyses in accordance with Subpart 5-6, Section 5-6.11, Table 1A - Microbiological Sampling Frequency.

Surveillance Monitoring

Approximately 40 bottled and bulk water surveillance and/or complaint investigation samples were collected by Department (both field and central office) staff which were analyzed for either inorganic chemical, organic chemical, microbiological and/or particle identification parameters. These samples were collected primarily in response to product recalls, consumer complaints or to verify results received for initial certification of new products.

Violations

Bottled and bulk water facilities are required to submit a Monthly Operating Report (DOH-357) no later than the 10th of the month following the month of the reporting period. The required amount of monthly monitoring is determined by the number of gallons produced for New York State distribution or the number of potable water gallons hauled in New York State and is outlined in Section 5-6.11, Table 1A of Subpart 5-6 of the State Sanitary Code.

In 2006, the Department sent 86 violation letters to certified bottled water facilities and 68 violation letters to certified bulk water haulers for non-submittal of Monthly Operating Reports. Also, the Department sent 78 violation letters to certified bottled water facilities and 58 violation letters to certified bulk water haulers for non-submittal of monthly microbiological results from a New York State Health Department certified laboratory (see Monthly Violations for 2006 table below). All data were complete at time of renewal of certified bottlers.

Monthly Violations for 2006
Certification TypeFailure to Submit Monthly
Operating Report
Failure to Submit
Microbiological Results
Bottled Water8678
Bulk Water6858
Total154136

In 2006, the Department sent 42 violation letters to New York State certified bottled and bulk water facilities when monthly microbiological sample results tested positive for coliform and/or E. coli for their source or their finished products. The facilities were required to take follow-up samples, determine the source of the problem and take the necessary course of action. Also, the Department sent 33 violation letters to bottled and bulk water facilities when results of a Standard Plate Count (SPC) or Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) result was greater than 500 cfu/mL. Additionally, the Department sent 2 violation letter to a New York State certified bottled or bulk water facilities for failing to send bacteriological samples to laboratory approved by the Environmental Laboratory Approval Program.

Enforcement

In 2006, the Department did not initiate enforcement actions against any bottled/bulk water facilities in addition to issuing notices of violation and conducting subsequent follow-up investigations.

Product Recalls

The New York State Sanitary Code Subdivision 5-6.7(i), requires bottled water facilities have on file a written recall plan which details the procedures for recall of any particular batch as identified by the production date code. This recall plan may be initiated when it is determined (by the bottler and/or State Health Department) that a potential contamination incident has occurred.

In 2006, there were 2 incidents of contamination of bottled water products in New York State. In one instance, the Department was notified that the bottler had received positive microbiological results of coliform from samples taken from finished bottled water products. A recall of the products was initiated by the bottler because of the potential for affecting public health due to a breakdown in the bottling process. In the other instance, the bromate level in the finished product exceeded the federal allowed limits which precipitated a voluntary recall by the bottler. Both recalls were the end results of consumer complaints.

Complaints

The Department addresses bottled/bulk water complaints based upon the nature and severity of the complaint at hand. For complaints related to distribution or financial issues, the complainant is referred to the vendor or the bottler. Complaints that suggest illness, possible water quality standard exceedances, imminent or widespread public danger will be referred for investigation to the Department which works in concert with the appropriate local county health department or district office in which the bottler is located. Complaints dealing with aesthetic concerns are addressed by either the bottling facility or the appropriate level of Health Department.

In 2006, approximately 80 consumer complaints were received and/or referred to the Department for investigation and follow-up. The majority of the consumer complaints consisted of isolated incidents involving taste and/or odor problems associated with bottled water products or household contamination of the product. In most cases, sealed bottled water products from the same production run, or as close as possible to the production run, were sent to the Department's Wadsworth Laboratory for testing.

Public Education and Outreach

In 2006, the Department's Bureau of Water Supply Protection (BWSP) fielded hundreds of telephone, e-mail and letter inquiries concerning the Bottled and Bulk Water Program. Typical inquiries included regulation questions, certification questions and complaints. These inquiries were received from consumers, media, field staff, bottlers, bulk water haulers and other state and foreign agencies. In addition, BWSP staff provided program presentations at conferences as well as for field staff training purposes.