Bottled Vs. Tap Water

It may surprise you that, according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, the best-selling drinking product in the United States is water, and this also includes seltzer. We consume, on average approximately forty billion gallons of bottled water in 2016. This is more than sports drinks and sugary, syrup drinks such as soda. This is a trend for smarter and healthier choices made by Americans yet, this trend may pose added environmental and health concerns.

Because our bodies are made of up to 70% water, we need water to survive. As we lose water through urination, bodily functions and sweating it’s imperative that we re-fuel our body with water to have more energy and stay hydrated.

It is all the rave to drink water – which includes weight loss, bad skin repair… and it’s not just a trend. Our bodies are made up of more than 50% water. Water removes toxins and energizes the body all day long. There are benefits to the body and our overall health by eliminating processed and sugary drinks from our daily regiment and most of all, the benefits of drinking water include:

Improved Energy
Toxin flush
Less cost
Loss of weight
Clarity in the skin and complexion
Balance bodily fluids
Digestive assistance
Prevents illness
Hydrated muscles
Regulates body temperature

So…. Where do you get water from?

Benefits of Water Drinking

Weight Loss – Conclusions from a Harvard research study says that those who drank water in lieu of other drinks, consumed less sugar, fewer calories, cholesterol, and fat. Those that drank more water lost more weight

Fracking Effects on Ground Water Pollution – Hydraulic fracturing and testing the environment, is responsible for polluting groundwater and water wells in the United States.

We drink tap, bottled, or filtered water. Kitchen sink, and park water fountains are considered tap water. It is easily accessible within the United States and is highly regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and they ensure the quality and cleanliness of such water. Some people use separate filtration systems including household filters such as Brita, or UV-filtrations systems so-as-to remove bacteria and other contaminants. And finally, there is bottled water, which are plastic bottles filled with water and corporately packaged by companies several of which are simply public tap water or filtered water to fill their premade plastic bottles.

Bottled water is the least regulated and most expensive when you compare it to tap water access, or regular water filters. In the United States, more emphasis is on public water than bottled water companies…plus it is worst for the environment as 50 billion bottles are tossed every year into the environment

Filtered, Tap and Bottled Water

Do Something Organization has a motto “a global movement for good” which highlights eleven facts about public drinking water. Their facts are interesting and informative.

National Geographic Article on Water has an in-depth article on bottled water vs. public water and it supports their title of “why tap water is better than bottled water”. The article talks about the health, financial, and environmental costs of bottled water. It also states how some states, cities and countries are taking action to reduce the usage of bottled water.

Cornell University Bottled vs. Tap Water Comparison The article contrast and compares objectively the differences between tap and bottled water, discussing regulation and testing and water source, environmental issues, and disinfections.

Government Accountability Bottled vs, Office Tap Water results The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report pinpoints differences in the way the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates bottled water vs. tap water. The report reveals that the FDA has less testing standards than the EPA, specifically that companies that bottle water do not have to report violations nor do they have to use certified laboratories for water testing.

Reusable water bottles are the obvious solution with a large amount of options in selecting, color, features, size and material and new trends being developed each year. Insulated materials like stainless steel protect liquids inside the bottle. This means drinks can remain colder with ice on hot days and warmer drinks on cold days.

Developing products with in mouth filters for reusable water bottles are plentiful these days. So, you can fill the water bottle with tap water from a sink, and it will filter it as you drink. One issue is that the mouth-piece filter makes the water dispense slowly rather than if the water was flowing quicker and more freely.

Brita is a well-known product that uses filtered water dispensers, and includes new products such as a filtered water bottle that you can take on the go.

Another added feature is one where you may add fruit and vegetables into a diffuser section of the water bottle so that it mixes into the taste of the water. It also separates the fruit or vegetable with the water.