Question:
Today a lot of labels say natural spring water, but many companies actually drill a bore hole in the ground and pump the water out," said Jim Heaton, president of the NSWA. "That's simply well water. Do you think some of these major brands could sell much water if their labels said well or bore-hole water?"

Answer: But the International Bottled Water Association, which represents 85 percent of the industry, said either method yields safe, drinkable spring water.

Lodged in the middle is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency proposed standard definitions for the water industry two years ago.

Those standards say water collected by either method could be labeled spring water. Appropriately, a decision is expected in the spring.

In the past decade, the bottled water business has grown dramatically, faster than any other part of the beverage business. Americans are buying twice as much water as a decade ago, and they're paying a lot more for it.

There are different types of bottled water, from the basic water in plastic jugs to spring water in fanciful bottles. More than 700 brands of water compete for America's thirst.