Bottled Water vs Tap Water

Despite booming bottled water sales, studies are showing that bottled water quality is often no more healthy than tap water and comes without an excessive burden on the environment.

Water is arguably the most important resource on the planet as it makes up more than seventy percent of the human body, it's no wonder that the bottled water vs tap water question is one of the most frequently asked questions in today's health market.

In both the US and Europe, standards regulating tap water are more stringent that for bottled water. Since 1980, the European Union has applied a specific directive to natural mineral water, while other bottled water, like tap water, has had to comply with its Drinking Water Directive.

Environmental groups have long been making the case that bottled water may not be any healthier than tap water, although it could end up costing up to 10,000 times more.

However, if you're trying to choose a side in the bottled water vs. tap water debate there are many things you can and will want to consider before making a decision about which to trust. First of all, many states put additives into the water you get from your tap, including but not limited to softeners, fluoride and additional minerals.

Bottled water on the other hand typically removes most natural minerals and adds some of its own preferred minerals and other additives to give the water a specific taste. There are also some brands of bottled water that still use BPEs in the creation of their bottles and this should be a consideration for you if you are concerned about toxins and other dangers for your family.

Reading this, you might reach the conclusion that when it comes to comparing bottled water vs tap water, the latter is better. However, this is not necessarily the case as there are still toxins in tap water; the reason that prompted the popularity of bottled water originally. So comparing bottled water vs tap water is a complex process.

One of the main issues relating to this debate is geographic location. It is reasonable to say that drinking water quality differs from city to city and country to country, but the difference can actually be surprisingly large from area to area. This ensures that there can only ever be local answers to this global question. We can only suggest that you assess the quality of your tap water and make comparisons with the branded bottled water available in your local area. This may not sound easy to do, but finding information about your tap water should be possible at a local government website or information centre.