Should You Drink Bottled Water?

Bottled water is a billion dollar industry…$219 billion per year, actually. To think that with water so cheaply available in our homes and on demand anytime, people still often prefer bottled water over the water from the tap. These reasons can include:

• More Convenient
• Tastes Better
• Cleaner Than Tap Water
• Healthier
• Cheaper than a Filter for Home
• Best Option for Emergencies

The truth is, only one of these reasons is valid. Keep reading to find out which one!

The world has an obsession with bottled water. We hardly ever leave our homes without taking a bottle with us. We carry a bottle in our cars when we drive. We take a few bottles to work, or to school. We pack it for the gym. We take it everywhere.

There is little doubt that drinking water is healthy, but some of the things that go along with bottled water…are not.

Let’s Examine some of the reasons that people choose bottled water over the water in their homes, and get to the truth concerning these choices.

Bottled Water is Healthier

Tap water sometimes gets a bad reputation, but in reality, it deserves a second look. Our drinking water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whereas bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is important to point that out, because the EPA’s testing on tap water is considered to be more comprehensive, frequent, and rigorous than the FDA testing performed on bottled water.

Public water systems are required to test their water daily, weekly, or quarterly (or annually depending on the contaminate). Bottled water companies are only required to test weekly or annually, depending on the source of the water. Furthermore the FDA only requires bottled water be tested for a limited number of contaminants, and shockingly, does not require that these test results be made available to the public.

If you are still on the fence about possible safety issues with bottled water, consider the fact that some bottled water comes from municipal water supplies across the country, and is in fact, filtered tap water. There is also the danger of contamination of the bottled water itself, through packaging, transportation, or handling. So essentially, you are paying for the plastic container that could be filled with the exact same water that you have in your home.

There have been several lawsuits brought against some bottled water manufacturers regarding mislabeling practices. Some water was advertised as natural spring water, when in fact it was sourced from municipal drinking water supplies. Some of these lawsuits were dismissed when the labels were changed.

But sometimes it’s the packaging itself that poses a danger. There is fear of harmful chemicals leeching from the plastic bottles themselves into the water. Some of these chemicals are endocrine disrupters, such as BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA has been linked to breast and other cancers, reproductive and fertility issues, obesity, and early puberty.

Leaving plastic bottles of water exposed to sunlight can accelerate the leeching of these harmful chemicals into the water. Although some manufacturers label their products as BPA free, studies show that this is not always the case.

In all but a very few exceptions, it’s unlikely that most bottled water is a healthier choice than tap water.

Bottled water is cleaner

It’s no secret that the production of bottled water creates pollution and uses up natural resources like petroleum. For safety reasons, these bottles should never be reused, and the bottles that are thrown away take a very long time to decompose. They remain in landfills for hundreds years, releasing chemicals and microplastics when they break down. Marine life is especially affected by the enormous amount of plastic that finds its way to the rivers, lakes, and oceans every day.

Given the pollution during manufacturing, the persistence of the byproducts, and the effect on the environment in general, it’s hard to argue that bottled water is a cleaner solution to tap water.

Bottled Water is More Convenient

People often make the argument that bottled water is more convenient. This is often because of two reasons. First, bottled water comes in its own packaging, which can be disposed of when finished. It is usually very compact, and can be carried with you. Secondly, tap water isn’t always available when you are out and about, or traveling. These reasons seem to make bottled water a convenient choice. But in reality, the only convenience is the packaging itself.

As with all things, a little planning can go a long way. Having your own dedicated reusable water bottles filled with your own tap water ensures that you are drinking water with familiar quality. Reusable water bottles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are just as easy to carry with you, and they can last for a very long time, unlike the flimsy, one-time use bottles from commercially bottled water. Not only are they reusable, but they make far less of an impact on the environment.

Although convenience is subjective, washing out and filling a few water bottles seems a bit easier than buying, transporting, and recycling a never-ending supply of bulky and heavy bottled water.

With proper planning and organization, bottled water is even less convenient than tap water.

Bottled Water is Cheaper

It is doubtful that anyone would suggest that bottled water is cheaper than getting water from the kitchen faucet. But many people think that filtering their tap water is expensive. In reality, filters from your home may be cheaper than you think. There really is no limit to the amount of filtration that you can install in your home. You can filter the whole house, or just the kitchen sink. The cost depends on the type of system that you choose, but a good faucet filter can give you incredibly clean water for 15 cents a gallon, or less.

That kind of savings is just not possible with bottled water. And don’t forget, one very important benefit to filtering your own tap water is that you can be confident of consistent quality, and it is always on demand.

Just about any filter system you choose will be far cheaper than buying bottled water.

Bottled Water Tastes Better

Once again, taste is a very subjective matter, and people have a wide range of preferences, especially when it comes to water. But as discussed earlier, much of the bottled water that we buy is simply tap water from various municipalities. It is extremely likely that the addition of an inexpensive faucet filter can give your tap water a superior taste to just about any of the commercial choices.

Some filters not only remove over 99% of all contaminants, but also add minerals to enhance the flavor. 100% pure water would taste quite bland, and one of the reasons spring water is preferred is because of the natural minerals that it contains. Filters that add minerals can perfect the taste to your liking, often surpassing anything you can find in a bottle.

When the proper filtration is applied, the taste of filtered water can be superior to almost any bottled water.

Bottled Water for Emergencies

Areas that are prone to natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, and other events that can cut off access to water need to have a plan in case of emergencies. This is one area where bottled water might just have the edge. While it is possible to store tap water, it isn’t an ideal solution. The problem lies in the containers.

It would be difficult to preserve large quantities of tap water for extended periods. On the other hand, bottled water can last for years unopened. It is compact enough to store out of the way, and easy enough to buy before an emergency, if you don’t wait too long.

The truth is, bottled water is hard to beat when planning for emergencies.

To Wrap it Up…

Bottled water can have a place and time in all of our lives, and the occasional use might make sense in certain situations. But there is no denying that it is not a solution that is financially sound, environmentally friendly, the healthiest, or the most convenient.

The myth of tap water being unhealthy has been busted many times, and we hope you take a second look at the water in your home. If you don’t like the taste, then try a filter system. Your body and wallet, not to mention the planet, will thank you.