4. Conclusions
The mineral values in this study represent a statistical
sampling of tap water available to the US population in their
homes. Collecting the water in homes allows for a more accurate
assessment of mineral content than using data from municipal
water treatment plants since pipes and home water treatment
may affect the mineral values. By determining mean estimates as
a percent of the DRI, mineral intakes are standardized and
become more useful in health education. Rough estimates of
mineral contributions to the US diet from water can be calculated
but, for the most part, tap water provides trivial amounts of zinc,
iron, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. Most of our
calcium, magnesium, sodium and copper mineral contents of
tap water provide small amounts to intake and, in some
individual cases, the amounts of copper or sodium may be
nutritionally significant.