Bottled vs. Tap vs. Filtered Water

Dr. Victor Marchione

Water: it’s the one thing that we absolutely need to survive. Without water, dehydration quickly sets in, and all of the major organs begin shutting down one by one. Fortunately, for those of us living in the U.S. or Canada, plenty of drinking water is readily available. The issue is not so much “is there enough drinking water?” but rather “which drinking water is the safest?”.

New concerns about the quality of tap water have made many people turn to bottled water. And for those who want to forgo the extra expense of buying water in a bottle, there’s always the option of drinking filtered tap water.

So which is better? There has been a spate of recent reports that bottled “spring water” is, in fact, no better than tap water. And then there are the reports about the quality of tap water. Is fluoride really good for our health over the long term? And what about chlorine? Filtered tap water also has its proponents and naysayers.

Let’s take a closer look at these three types of drinking water and try to determine if one is better for your health than another. After all, water is essential for good health. There isn’t a single organ or biological function in your body that doesn’t benefit from the hydrating effects of water.

It’s Cheap, but Is It Good for You?

There are a lot of good things that can be said about tap water. Tap water is regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has pretty strict standards.4 Tap water is routinely tested several times a day for harmful microbiological content. Water-treatment plants must keep detailed accounts of tap water’s sources and the results of any testing.

Many advocates for tap water also consider the fact that fluoride is added to the water a bonus. Adding fluoride to drinking water promotes strong teeth and could help prevent tooth decay.

What else does tap water have going for it? It’s cheap, it doesn’t create any waste and the supply is more or less unlimited.

But what about the taste? Many dislike the taste of chlorine, which is added to most tap waters. Sometimes the water coming out of your taps may look or taste different. This doesn’t mean that the water is unsafe. It just has a slightly altered composition because of treatment at a water filtration plant.

Pros & Cons of Bottled Water

Unlike tap water, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Standards for bottled water are not as strict as those for tap water are. Bottled-water companies are required to test for microbes only once a week, and because the FDA doesn’t require the same standards for water that is bottled and sold in the same state, a significant number of bottles haven’t undergone any testing at all!

On the other hand, production of bottled water has to follow the “current good manufacturing practices” (CGMPs). The CGMPs are regulations set up and enforced by the FDA. According to the guidelines, water has to be sampled, analyzed and found to be safe, so there is some regulation regarding the quality and safety of bottled water.

Bottled water scores high points when it comes to lead levels. Lead can leach into tap water from lead pipes. Because of this, the EPA has set a safety level at 15 parts per billion. When lead levels are above 15 parts per billion, water utilities have to treat the water and reduce the levels.

Bottled water, on the other hand, is never exposed to lead piping. As a consequence, the lead limit for bottled water is a more modest 5 parts per billion.

Not All Bottles of Water Are Equal

In an effort to clarify the quality of bottled water, the FDA has classified bottled water according to its origin. “Artesian well water” comes from a well that taps into an aquifer-layer of porous rock, sand and earth. Water from artesian aquifers is considered more pure by the EPA because the layers of rock and clay prevent contamination.

“Mineral water” is water from an underground source that contains at least 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids — or, in other words, minerals and trace elements.

“Spring water” comes from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to Earth’s surface. Spring water has to be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground source.

Some bottled water is also tap water that has been treated by a particular filtering process. One big brand name of bottled water has been investigated for misleading consumers about the true nature of its bottled water. Advertised as “pure, still water,” the company was insinuating that it was selling spring water when, in fact, it was selling purified tap water.

The National Resources Defense Council estimates that more than 25% of bottled water is really just tap water that has been treated — or sometimes not even treated at all.

If you spend money on bottled water, make sure that you check the label carefully. It is possible to buy pure spring water that doesn’t have that chlorinated, treated taste of tap water.

On the other hand, industrial chemicals and chemicals that are used in manufacturing plastic (such as “phthalate”) could leach into bottled water from its plastic container. You might also want to consider the fact that the bottled-water industry produces over 1.5 million tons of plastic each year that may or may not make it into recycling programs.

The Best Solution?

Filtered water may be the best alternative when it comes to drinking water. Water filters have the ability to remove more dangerous contaminants than any other purification method. Most of them have also been designed to specifically work for municipally treated water. Water treated with a filter is also free from contamination from the chemicals that are found in plastic bottles. In addition, filtered water is more economical than bottled water is.

So what should you do if you want to give filtered water a try? There are many different kinds of water filters available to buy. Three common filtration methods include distillation, “reverse osmosis” and “ozonation.”

During distillation, water is turned into vapor. Distilled water still contains minerals, because minerals are too heavy to vaporize and are left behind when the vapors are condensed into water again.

Reverse osmosis is a filtration process in which water is forced through membranes to remove dissolved salts and metallic ions. Reverse osmosis is helpful in trapping and removing many contaminants from tap water.

Ozonation means to use ozone gas instead of chlorine to disinfect water. Ozone is an anti-microbial agent.

Of course, there are many more filtration methods that you can use with your tap water. A little research might clarify which type is best for your circumstances. Filters run the gamut from relatively inexpensive to quite expensive.

Keep in mind that you will pay more for a permanent filter that is installed than you will for a small, disposable filter, but disposable filters must be purchased frequently, which can raise their cost in the long run. Also, disposable filters end up in landfills, adding more waste to the environment.

So there you have it — a brief look at the debate between drinking tap water, bottled water and filtered water. Since water quality differs from city to city and town to town, you’ll want to put some thought into what’s the best choice for you. Clean, safe drinking water is fundamental to our survival, and it is also fundamental to good health.

Dr. Victor Marchione is affiliated with http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/ on which readers may subscribe to its health newsletter for free.