Bottled water has come a long way in its lifetime, and today, consumers are choosing this natural, healthy beverage more than ever. Industry experts even speculate that the category could grow larger than the carbonated soft drink (CSD) category by the end of the decade.

A recent report from Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC), New York, indicates that bottled water consumption reached a record high last year. According to the market research firm, consumption increased 7.3 percent to almost 10.9 billion gallons, and per capita consumption reached a high of 34 gallons last year.