(Mineola, NY) Nassau County Legislators Salvatore B. Pontillo (R-Farmingdale) and Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) have introduced local legislation on behalf of their Republican colleagues requiring the manufacturers of bottled water to make available a toll free number so that consumers can obtain information about what is contained within the bottled water product.

"Consumers have the right to know what is contained in the bottled water that they purchase for consumption," said Legislators Pontillo and Gonsalves. "Public water providers are required under Federal and State law to provide to their customers a detailed breakdown of the contents of the water that they are providing. We should expect no less from those who sell bottled water to consumers as well".

Under the proposed law manufacturers of bottled water will be required to provide a toll free telephone number that consumers can call and be informed of the following:

1. The organic and inorganic chemicals, radiological, biological, and other contaminants and the physical characteristics contained in such bottled water;
2. The standards of identity required by the Federal Drug Administration
3. Information required by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990
4. Whether the source of any bottled water is a municipal water supply
5. Whether the source of any bottled water has been substantially altered

Any entity that intentionally or willfully violates any provision of the law is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1000. The Department of Health within 60 days will be charged with promulgating the regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this law. The law, if passed, would become effective March 22, 2002 - World Water Day as declared by the United Nations.

The proposed legislation has the support of the Legislative Committee of the Long Island Water Conference. The Conference is an island-wide organization consisting of public water providers in the Nassau/Suffolk region.