Bottled Water Vs Tap Water - What You Don't Know

The debate over bottled water VS tap water is carried on by industry, environmental groups and consumers, alike.  In some cases, the comparison of tap versus bottled water is simple, because they are basically the same thing.

Major bottling companies like Coke and Pepsi use “municipal sources”, as do 25% of all bottling companies in the United States.  The quality of the city’s or county’s source determines the quality of their products.  The most popular filtration method for large companies is reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis reduces naturally occurring minerals and elements like lead, but it does not remove chemical contaminants like chlorine.  So, people who don’t like the taste of chlorine vote differently on the bottled water VS tap water subject.  Neither is satisfactory.

Now, when the subject is tap versus bottled water from a spring or protected groundwater source, you will see a difference of opinion.  Some people prefer the taste of the water from specific springs, such as Poland or Deer Park.  But, taste is not the only consideration.

Are You Buying "Taste"? 

Groundwater can contain naturally occurring compounds that are not safe for consumption.  Companies must do regular testing, but in some causes they do not.  If a product is not transported across state lines in the US, no testing is required. 

Chemical Contamination

For example, look at tap versus bottled water in terms of benzene contamination, a known carcinogen.  In parts per billion, the total allowable level is 5 in the US and Canada, one in the UK for both bottling companies and public water providers. 

The “goal” is zero parts per billion, but the natural occurrence of the compound is so widespread that the goal may never be achieved.  In recent years a facility worker decided to compare Perrier bottled water VS tap water from his facility.
He found levels of benzene ranging from 12 to nearly 20 parts per billion.

Millions of bottles of the sparkling beverage were eventually recalled.
The compound is also formed by combining benzoic acid, a preservative commonly used in soft drinks, with other chemical compounds.  Concern over benzene contamination in soft drinks has been the subject of several different research studies.  It is one of the many volatile organic compounds that becomes gaseous and is inhaled when we are exposed to air pollution or shower in unfiltered water.

What is the Healthy Solution?

That brings up another consideration, how about home filtered tap versus bottled water?  When it comes to contaminant level and taste, the all around winner is home-filtered tap-water.

When you compare bottled water versus tap water that has been filtered using granular carbon and other filtering media, the safety may still vary.  You really need to look at product performance data to find a truly effective home filtration device.  Most of them do not remove volatile organic compounds like benzene.

I am sure the tap versus bottled water debate will continue for some time.  But, if you are trying to “go-green” and protect the environment, you have to stop buying and consuming fewer bottled beverages, in general.  They are a major source of pollution.

When most of us think about that, it ends the bottled water VS tap water debate.  We simply buy a home filter.  But not just any home water filter.  some are cheap and simply do not work very well.  My research found one particular brand stood out from all the others. So bottled water can be just tap water.  No brainer:  Filter your own water at home with a good water filter.