Bottled Versus Tap Water

Sales of bottled water in the United States have soared in recent years, thanks primarily to a public perception of purity created by a bombardment of advertising campaigns and packaging labels featuring pristine glaciers and crystal-clear mountain springs. The reality, however, presents a different picture. Bottled water sold in the United States is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water, say reliable scientific surveys.

A study conducted by NRDC tested over 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water and found most of the tested waters to be of high quality, but some brands contaminated. The results displayed that about one-third of the waters tested contained different levels of contamination. NRDC found that bottled water regulations are less than sufficient to assure consumers of either purity or safety, although both the federal government and the states have bottled water safety programs. In fact, nearly 25 percent or more of bottled water is no more than just tap water in a bottle - sometimes further treated, sometimes left just like that.

The United States boasts of one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world. Even if water has sometimes an unpleasant smell or taste due to certain treatment or local conditions, tap water that meets EPA and state standards is still considered safe to drink. However, a few water suppliers may not meet all applicable standards. You should get in touch with your local water supplier to find out whether your drinking water supplier complies with federal and state standards or not. You can also check with your state drinking water agency. If you are worried about a particular contaminant in your water supply, the EPA has prepared fact sheets for you on most of the contaminants which are regulated.

Although bottled waters are covered by the Food and Drug Administration's rules, they are subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water. Bottled water is tested less frequently than city tap water for bacteria and chemical contaminants. Furthermore, bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform (which indicate possible contamination with fecal matter). It is in sharp contrast to tap water rules, which prohibit any confirmed contamination with these bacteria.

Similarly, bottled water is not required to be disinfected or tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia, unlike the rules for big city tap water systems that use surface water sources. As a result, some bottled water may present a health threat to people with weakened immune systems, such as the frail elderly, some infants, transplant or cancer patients, or people with HIV and AIDS.

So we may safely conclude that there is no assurance that bottled water is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. We have also known that almost a quarter or more of all bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle. However, since your local tap water is required to be tested, by law, and those results must be publicly available, you have greater chance of verifying the safety of your tap water. You cannot, however, verify the compliance of any bottled water. Therefore, if you want the safest, cleanest, and best tasting water without spending a fortune, just go and install a good water filter on your tap.