Bottled Water: Any Better Than Tap Water?

How many times have we heard of the health advice that, for good health reasons, a person has to consume no less than eight glasses of water each day? Many health experts, however, say that drinking at least five glasses of clean water each day is enough to replenish lost fluid and rejuvenate the body. This, of course, emphasizes the importance of making sure that the water we drink is truly free from any contaminants or impurities. This is the reason why many people turn to bottled water for the required rehydration and refreshment.

Drinking tap water has, time and again, raised serious questions from those who insist that water from the faucet may not at all be safe to drink because it constantly runs the risk of intrusion of various contaminants from outside sources or such factors that include failures of certain mechanisms at a water treatment facility to operate normally, well inundation caused by a heavy rainfall, or an accidental chemical spill. In addition, there is great concern that tap water is always vulnerable to corruption by infectious microorganisms.

With such concerns about the safety of drinking tap water, it is quite understandable why many people trust bottled water the more. However, those who put their faith in bottled water need to be aware that these high-priced products may not really be any better than the practically costless tap water. To ascertain the difference, the condition of the water coming out of your faucet and what are indicated on the bottled water's label should both be considered. The process of bottling water for drinking purposes is strictly regulated by health authorities, such that manufacturing practices, standards of quality, and labeling requirements are prescribed.

The label of bottled spring water, for example, will tell you that the contents of that bottle were taken from an underground spring that flows naturally to the earth's surface. If sourced out from a borehole that draws out water from the underground fount, the water's composition must be the same as that of the naturally flowing surface water. As per health authorities' regulation, bottled spring water must contain less than five hundred parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids. Spring water is likewise guarded, in some measure, against contamination by certain pollutants, such as fertilizer residues, traces of pesticides, and industrial wastes.

A bottled mineral water's label indicates that the contents meet the definition of spring water, except that mineral water contains more than five hundred ppm of dissolved solids. It is also important to understand that mineral water is usually quite high in sodium and does not have any special nutritional benefit.

Bottled distilled or purified water is taken from either a well or spring, and then treated by certain types of filtering or by distilling. This type of bottled water is nearly devoid of total dissolved solids. While its taste may be flat, it should be free of any microorganisms.

Carbonated bottled water contains natural or added carbonation. But know that soda water, club soda, and seltzer are not considered bottled water. They are rather defined as soft drinks.

Approximately eighty percent of bottled water is taken from protected underground sources. But unlike the tap water from most municipal or city water supplies, bottled water may be wanting in fluoride content sufficient to ward off cavities. This plus the definition of each of the types of bottled water, compared to the quality or condition of your tap water, should give you a good idea as to which type of drinking water (bottled or tap) is safer and better for you.