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Bottled or Tap?
Health | November 29, 2014
These days bottled water has become more of a style accessory than a conscious choice toward a healthier lifestyle. Water, is course, an absolute necessity. Still, many are under a somewhat misguided assumption that bottled water is, in fact, much healthier and safer than regular tap water. To some degree, this may be true, but not to the extent that bottled water manufacturers would have us believe. Ironically enough, bottled water has some of its own issues to deal with as well.
EPA and FDA
In what amounts a to an oddly bureaucratic maze here in the U.S., regular tap water is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) while bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The EPA is in charge of overseeing public water supplies while the FDA provides oversight for food products. Both are in charge of making sure that the water we consume – be it tap water or bottled water – is safe to consume. I know, I know this made my head hurt a bit and I’m sure yours does as well! The main thing to understand here is that both tap water and bottled water are regulated and tested to provide some measure of protection when we drink it.
So Which one is Healthier?
Whether or not bottled water is healthier or safer than tap water is, in many ways, a matter of perception and individual choice. The Safe Drinking Water Act that passed in 1974 insured that public tap water would be regulated and treated for microbes and bacteria. As result, tap water contains chlorine to protect against waterborne illnesses. While that may sound unappealing – and it may very well be – think of dysentery outbreaks in rural parts of Africa or elsewhere to have a better understanding of how dangerous a contaminated water supply can be. Strangely enough, tap water also contains fluoride here in the U.S. to provide some additional protection for our teeth (honestly, that’s weird to me). Still, the addition of chemicals to any thing we consume in such large amounts should make us, at the very least, cautious.
Bottled water may come to the rescue for those of us wary of the chemicals used to treat and disinfect tap water. However, though bottled water is usually not disinfected with chemicals, it’s also more susceptible to microbes and bacteria if proper safety checks aren’t effectively followed, especially during transportation and storage. Another significant concern regarding bottled water is the very plastic used in the bottles themselves. Aside from the environmental toll all the discarded plastic bottles create, some disposable plastic bottles still contain chemicals similar to bisphenol-A (BPA) – a notorious chemical found in some hard, reusable plastic bottles amongst other things.
Personally, I’m not sold on either bottled water or tap water. I find the most effective method in terms of safety and cost is to just filter my own tap water. In fact, many bottled water manufactures do just that except that they charge us an arm and leg for the favor. It’s all bit confusing, but one thing I’m certain of right now is that I’m really thirsty!
How do you drink water? Is it a conscious decision for you when you drink tap water or bottled water? Let me know!
P.S. Even Smalls drinks only filtered tap water.
Private Member |
Filtered tap water for everyone here as well, dogs and cats included 🙂 And Zuz, I’d like to bring this to your attention – something horrible is happening in Moreauville, Louisiana. They placed a dog ban called “Breed Specific Law”, which will have all dogs that fall into the category of “dangerous breeds” confiscated from their families by the local authorities and ultimately killed. We have until December 8th to gather enough signatures and have the ban lifted. Here is the link to the petition: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/save-zeus/?source=search
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Omg that’s horrible! I’m signing it!
Private Member |
lake tahoe, nv, usa
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m in shock that this is actually going on. I had to post it on my Facebook and I will try to spread the word as much as I can.
Private Member |
Signed!
Private Member |
czech republic
I buy water. I dont like the taste of local water, I simply cant even swallow it. So I buy water and I am satisfied.
Private Member |
Yeah, I definitely think it also depends on where you live. I used to live in a high rise apartment in South Beach, FL and the tap water was pretty soft and easy to drink. I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan now and the water is really hard and white particles float around in it. I drank the tap water here for 6 months before I realized how crappy I felt (like a freaking zombie and really depressed). We bought a filter for the tap, but in less than a month, it was time to change it…the filter was so dirty! So now we don’t have much of a choice but to buy bottled now that we have a one year old toddler. It’s funny because Michigan is known for its big lakes!
Private Member |
This dog is adorable! 🙂 Well if the bottle of tap water is open, the chlorine evaporates in a few hours and it slightly improves the taste. It is wise to not reuse plastic bottles and to not put hot beverages in those. Many chemicals are more soluble in warm liquids.
Private Member |
québec, canada
Tap water only here. 🙂
PS. Smallsie is adorable!!
Private Member |
Hi lovely Z.,
I drink only tap water which is staying for a while into a transparent decanter.
According to Jade ALLEGRE, a physician from my country, we can make drink water around the world with the use of clays.
Here is the link of “Clays and health” : http://lhomme.et.largile.free.fr/temoignages/testimony.htm (click on “making tap water safe”).
Best.
Private Member |
toronto, canada
The huge and completely unnecessary environmental impact of bottled makes it an easy choice for me! Tap 100%. I will only go for bottled when travelling where tap water is unsafe.
Private Member |
Tap and bottled water are frequent discussion’s around my house. Mainly because people ask me what I have to drink and I will tell them tap water, they will ask for a bottle. I do not drink bottled water because I do not want to fill up the world with more waste, I do not know how often they are checked, and the bottles are not safe. I think tap water is safe, and your body has a filter of its own. The more good things you put in, bad and good will come out. I do not filter my water, and I drink it everyday without noticing any side effects. I have actually been a witness of bottled water that had some white secretion in every bottle. I never felt comfortable with bottled water since, but I will drink it if it is the only option. Finding weird things floating in plain ol water really made me start thinking about the packaging and production industries! To many people handling something so simple. Drink some tap water if you are thirsty, no need to go pay more money for more water, when there is a supply in your kitchen! =)
Private Member |
michigan, usa
I’m rather picky about my water taste and quality. We have well water and it is just terrible considering we rent and are on a lake so we cannot maintain and replace things the way we would like to. My mother in law down the road has a great well water set up and I’ll drink there from the tap. But at my home we use refillable water jugs. It’s about 20cents to fill a gallon at the grocery store and we use reusable water bottles.( I used to buy bottled water and would go through a package a week. What a waste of environment and $$!) h2o is the only beverage for me. Besides coffee.
Private Member |
Smallsie is such a cutie patootie!! I go with tap when the taste is good, and use a Brita filter when the tap water doesn’t taste good. Bottled water is such a waste! I do like to add my Crystal Lite Wild Strawberry flavor packet to my water bottle but I refill the same water bottle from the tap for about a week in order to not be so wasteful. Wild Strawberry has some caffeine which I really like since I am not a coffee or tea drinker.