Tap Water vs Bottled Water

We are often told we should drink more water and you will have heard about the health benefits of drinking water. There's no doubt about it -- water is essential to health and even survival. There is a debate going on in modern society regarding water, and that is tap water vs. bottled water. Which is healthier? Many people would immediately say bottled water is best but is that really true? Is bottled water best or are people being influenced by good advertising and fancy bottles? Most of the time, there are no clear benefits to be had in choosing bottled water over water from your tap.

Perhaps surprisingly many people still think there are harmful contaminants in their tap water and drink bottled water instead but whether this is true or not remains to be seen. According to the ABC News, the widely renowned news program 20/20 did a study where they compared five brands of bottled water to a sample taken from a water fountain in New York City. The water was tested for dangerous contaminants that may cause illness, such as e.coli. The scientists found no discernable difference between the bottled water brands and the tap water when it came to safety.

If you have any concerns about the safety of your municipal water supply, you should be able to request a copy of the water safety report from your local government building. You may have heard on commercials for water filtration devices that tap water contains lead. If you find from your own research that your tap water does contain elements that you don't want to consume, using a water filter is an option you may want to consider before shelling out even more money for bottled water. Another reason you may want to choose filtered water over bottled is to reduce pollution to the environment from plastic bottles.

To answer the question of whether tap water is any worse than bottled water is simple. Properly treated tap water is a clean and healthy option for you. It seems both tap and bottled water are both free from dangerous bacteria. However you may prefer the taste of bottled water. If you get your water from a rural well, you may choose bottled water because the water from your tap is not monitored by the city and you find bottled water is cleaner. If you live in an urban or suburban area you may decide to go for tap water or filtered tap water carried in a reusable container instead of buying lots of bottled water. It's simply a matter of personal preference.



Drinking Water Guide




Bottled Water News:
Water Coolers - Not Just for the Office Anymore (Palatka Daily News)
(ARA) - Water coolers -- the machines with a bottle on top that dispense water -- are typically associated with offices. But drinking water is beneficial for everyone, not just office workers, and having a home water cooler is convenient, cost effective and environmentally friendly...

Across Missouri: Washington University to stop selling bottled water (The Kansas City Star)
Washington University is phasing out almost all sales of bottled water. It costs society a lot more in energy and expense to bottle water than to have students head for the nearest hallway drinking fountain, said Matt Malten, assistant vice chancellor for sustainability...


Fenton's "Yucky" Water (FOX 2 News St. Louis)
Bottled water is a popular item in South County as residents there deal with tap water that took a nasty turn. The water tasting bad and for a time smelling nasty because of what's being described as a natural phenomenon. Missouri American Water tells Fox 2 residents in Fenton and Sunset Hills are the most impacted. Officials say the water is still safe to drink and crews are fixing the problem. ...


Bottled Water: FAQ on Safety and Purity
Experts answer questions about the safety and purity of bottled water and how it compares to tap water...


The Carbon Footprint of Moving Bottled Water : TreeHugger
John-Paul Flintoff of the Times drove to Oxford and back, a total of a hundred miles, and noticed that he had a bottle of water on the seat. He wondered how much energy it took to move it. I...


The Tide Is Changing on Bottled Water - World News Forum - Open .
The surprising truth is that an estimated 25 to 40 percent of bottled water comes from public drinking reservoirs. Pepsicos Aquafina label shows high-peaked mountains, but the water is from municipal systems, including that of Ayer, ...


Fenton Residents: The Water is Rank (FOX 2 News St. Louis)
Residents in Fenton are turning to bottled water tonight after a problem with their tap water. They say the water smells bad, and tastes bad, too. Fenton mayor Dennis Hancock says there have been several residents calling into city hall today with complaints of bad water...


Washington University cuts back on bottled water - Columbia Missourian
The Columbia Missourian, a digital and print newspaper, is mid-Missouris news source. It is managed by professional journalists affiliated with the Missouri School of Journalism...




Drinking Water Guide


Technorati Tags: , ,