So many people grab bottled water and have no idea if they will be drinking purified tap water or spring water. As the LA Times noted, “You do know that, in most cases, bottled water is just tap water?” And Americans drink A LOT of bottled water as it is now the #1 beverage, even surpassing sodas. In 2018, an American consumed about 42 gallons of bottled water and sales were huge reaching $31 billion. People drink bottled water thinking it is healthier and it is healthier than sugared sodas. But is bottled water healthier than plain tap water?
Is bottled water tap water?
In many cases yes. Rather than open up the tap or fill up a glass of water from your refrigerator, Americans are choosing bottled water. Both Coke and Pepsi filter tap water, bottle it and then sell it at a nice mark up. In fact, a study found that “nearly 64% of bottled water in America is just tap water...”
What major brands of bottled water are from tap water?
Popular brands including Dasani, Aquafina and Nestle Pure Life are bottled water brands that are sourced from public water supplies.
How purified is bottled water?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested 10 brands of bottled water and they weren’t as “pure” as people think. EWG found that bottled water, even popular brands, contain some chemical pollutants and “an average of 8 contaminants in each brand”. EWG tested Walmart’s and Giant’s store brands of bottled water. Both were the same as water from a municipal water supply and Giant’s water even contained fluoride. (Note: the EWG study was from 2008 so results may be different than today.)
- Aquafina notes that it does use public water but then purifies the water with reverse osmosis and “removes things like chlorides, salts and other substances that can affect a water’s taste”.
-
Dasani
is also from public water but is filtered and some minerals are added. The ingredient list notes “purified water,
magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, salt” and “minerals added for taste”.
What brands of bottled water are from spring water?
- Mountain Valley Spring Water
- Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water
- Deer Park
- Poland Spring Water
What is the risk of microplastics from bottled water?
A big concern about bottled water are microplastics or nanoplastics and a chemical called BPA. (See: Are there plastic water bottles to avoid?) As noted in my blog post, How much plastic are you eating?, Consumer Reports has recommended going back to drinking tap water. Why? Because the plastic bottled water container “can leach toxic things such as antimony, bisphenols, phthalates, and microplastics”.
If you do choose to drink from plastic bottled water, here are some ways you can do it more safely:
- Don’t re-use the plastic bottle. They really aren’t meant to be reused and these bottles break down more readily than stronger plastic containers.
- Don’t let the plastic water bottle sit in the hot sun and get too hot. Why? This can damage the plastic and make it more likely the chemicals in the plastic leach into the water inside.
Conclusion: So, the next time you sip from a bottle, remember it might have started as tap water. It’s essential to check the label or brand information to understand the origin of the water you are purchasing. I prefer to drink tap water from a metal bottle. Metal bottle containers are not expensive and can be reused over and over again. Because these bottles are metal, there is no risk of toxic “things” leaching into my water. When we do choose bottled water, my husband always buys bottled water clearly labeled as Spring Water. When buy bottled water take time to read the label and choose “Spring Water”. My daughters like to drink sparkling water. Luckily, the brand they like comes in cans, not plastic bottles. I like Perrier and am disappointed that more and more this brand comes in plastic bottles when it always used to come only in glass bottles or cans.
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