Bottled Water Vs. Tap Water: Which Should You Drink?
April 23, 2007
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There is a time and place for everything, including bottled water and tap water. Which type you drink depends on your needs and tastes.
Every year we spend billions of dollars on bottled water. We complain about the high price of gas, but will happily pay through the nose for water imported from steams in France, Switzerland, or even Texas. So why do we pay so much for something we can get for pennies from the faucet? Because it’s cleaner, healthier, and tastes better, of course! However, many studies have found that this isn’t actually true. Here are a few facts to consider before you shell out your hard earned cash.
It is a common belief that bottled water is healthier for you; however, tests have been conducted on various water supplies and have found that the number of bacteria and harmful organisms is no higher in tap water than in regular water. In fact, there are usually more organizations responsible for testing tap water for purity than there are for bottled water. In addition, tap water contains fluoride and some other additives to help give you a healthy smile. Bottled water drinkers should use regular fluoride treatments to maintain good oral health. On the other hand, you can now buy bottled water with added nutrients tap water doesn’t have.
Another belief among bottled water drinkers is that bottled water tastes better. A blind taste test in New York City actually found that people preferred to taste of tap water to some brands of bottled water. In fact, Evian, one of the more expensive bottled brands, ranked lowest among tasters. If you really think your bottled water tastes better, go out and buy different brands and have someone help you set up your own blind taste test. You may find that bottled water isn’t so bad.
Even if you just can’t stand the taste of tap water, you can always buy a filter to attach to the tap. They filter out elements in water that cause bad tastes and smells, but they don’t cost nearly as much as bottled water. Water bottlers have responded to this by making water in various flavors you can’t get from a tap.
While all these studies have shown that bottled water isn’t really better than tap, there are a few things you should consider before you give up your expensive habit.
- Location matters. Many studies have been done only in one or two cities. Some cities have cleaner water than others due to varying restrictions and technology. You should check with your local government to find out how safe your local water is. They should also be able to provide independent studies of the water’s content
- Be careful with pets. My local water supply is safe for humans to drink, but if I gave it to a pet bird, it would kill them quickly. You should look into what’s in the water before you give it to any animal.
While the ultimate choice is up to you, with a little research and maybe a small amount of money for a filter, you can have clean, safe, great tasting water from your tap that doesn’t cost $3 a bottle.
To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids - Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.
Posted by admin | Filed Under Health & Wellness
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