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Bottled Water vs.Tap Water – Take Your Pick

By Expert HERWriter
 
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take your pick between tap water and bottled water MonkeyBusiness Images/PhotoSpin

When it comes to picking water, there doesn’t seem to be one, definitive answer to the question of which kind is better for you.

Bottled water providers claim their water is more pure and put pictures of pristine snowy mountains on the bottles to prove it.

Others claim bottled water is not regulated as carefully and therefore might be bad for you. So how do you choose? That’s really up to you and your taste buds to decide.

The most important thing is to pick your water and then drink it. Our bodies need water to stay healthy.

Coffee, tea and all the other things we put in our water to add flavor just mess up the pure water that our bodies require to keep our systems in balance and our skin hydrated and soft. So let’s dive in to learn more about both kinds of water.

The good news is that both bottled water and tap water are tested to be sure they are safe.

Lou Savant, President of Kiwaii True Spring Water says, “Bottled water is tested to the same standards as tap water. Reporting regulations are different, but that does not mean that bottled water is less regulated when it comes to standards. In fact, any water brand that is considered ‘natural’ such as spring water or artesian water must prove the water does not come from surface water, or contain any contaminant typically found in surface water. Most public water supplies come from surface water.”

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees public drinking water or tap water. As the FDA website explains, water bottlers must keep the water and bottles under sanitary conditions before, during and after bottling.

The water source must be protected from chemicals, germs, and other contaminants, and water must be tested for contaminants both before and after its bottled.

According to the EPA website, the EPA sets safety levels on contaminants in tap water and regulates how often tap water must be tested.

Most cities provide information on tap water quality once a year in a “Consumer Confidence Report” that typically comes in your July water bill. If you don’t receive a report, you can talk to your water company to get the details on your city’s water quality.

Of course, just because city water is okay leaving the processing plant doesn’t always mean it’s still clean by the time it gets to your home. Old pipes can sometimes leak contaminants like lead into tap water.

If you are concerned about the quality of the water in your own home, the EPA has information on how to get your home water tested.

Many people prefer bottled water because they think it tastes better, and I happen to agree. After trying out many kinds of water, I settled on Voss water in glass bottles because I like the way it tastes.

Taste is important. If you like your water you’ll drink more of it which will make your body happy. So if you like the idea of bottled water, do your own taste test to find the water that your taste buds prefer.

If you don’t want the expense of bottled water you can often improve the flavor of tap water by filtering it. An easy and relatively inexpensive method is a water-filtering pitcher. Just fill the pitcher with tap water and the included filter will remove contaminants that affect the taste of the water.

You can also buy water filter systems that attach to the water supply in your kitchen and either sit on the counter or fit under the sink. Check out this water filter comparison to learn more about your options in picking a water filter.

It’s important to make sure you always have a supply of water with you so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Many people opt for bottled water because it is convenient to grab on the way out the door.

Others worry about the environmental impact of bottles that aren’t recycled and prefer to use a refillable bottle. If you decide to go this route, just be sure your bottle is BPA-free so you can be sure your bottle isn’t contaminating your water.

And let me take just a minute to share one of my pet peeves. I hate to see someone refilling their water bottle by touching the mouth of the bottle to the spigot!

I don’t want to pick up anyone’s germs when I get a drink of water. So please, be considerate of others and don’t touch the water supply with your bottle when you refill it at a public drinking fountain!

When it comes to water, the bottom line is there is no one right answer to which water is better. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons and do your own taste testing to find the right kind of water for you.

Listen to your body and your taste buds to make your decision. Then make sure you drink enough every day to keep your body well hydrated.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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