May 31, 2005

With many Americans firing up backyard barbeques and attending family picnics this weekend in celebration of Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer also brings with it the search for ways to stay cool, refreshed and adequately hydrated. But how do you know how much to consume to avoid dehydration?

In order to help individuals meet their personal hydration goals, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is re-launching the IBWA Hydration Calculator. It is an interactive tool based on expert resources and the most current findings of the National Academy of Sciences, as reported in its February 2004 report, "Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Sulfate." IBWA’s Hydration Calculator provides helpful suggestions about an individual’s total fluid intake derived from both beverages and food, and other information about water's vital role in refreshment, health and hydration.

While adequate hydration is important for all individuals, water is an excellent choice for consumers who wish to avoid or moderate calories, caffeine, sugar or the various ingredients found in other beverages. And bottled water is an excellent convenience beverage choice for summer hydration and people on the go.

Bottled water is fully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a packaged food product. Like all food products, bottled water is subject to FDA’s extensive food safety and labeling requirements. In addition to federal and state regulations for bottled water, members of the IBWA must adhere to even stricter measures through the IBWA Model Code, which are standards that raise the bar for bottled water quality.

The IBWA Hydration Calculator is available online at http://www.bottledwater.org/public/hydratio_main.htm .