The quality of tap water is a growing concern among many Americans, and with good reason. But is purchasing bottled water instead of filling up from the tap actually a healthier alternative? Today we’re going to take a look at bottled water vs. tap water and what the best source is for healthy, clean and great-tasting water!
Bottled water vs. tap water: Health
Bottled water advertisements would love to have you believe that their products are much healthier than tap water, but the truth is that there is little difference between the two. Many research groups, including the National Resource Defense Council, have performed studies that have shown that bottled water is no safer or cleaner than tap water.
In order to understand why this is the case, look no further than the way each source is regulated. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, which sets certain standards for contaminant levels in bottled water. However, about 70 percent of bottled water doesn’t cross state lines for sale, making it exempt from FDA regulation.
Tap water, on the other hand, is regulated by the EPA. And although the EPA’s regulation certainly has its limitations, it does at least test tap water on a daily basis (much more frequently than the FDA).
Bottled water vs. tap water: Taste
Another common assumption is that bottled water tastes better than tap water. But is this actually the case? As this story from ABC News can attest, the results of taste tests between the two are often split down the middle. This makes sense when you consider the fact that about 52 percent of bottled water is actually just purified tap water!
Bottled water vs. tap water: Cost
One of the biggest differences between tap water and bottled water isn’t actually the quality or taste of the water, but rather how much it costs. Bottled water is typically about 300 times more expensive than tap water. Whereas bottled water costs approximately $1.22 per gallon, the average cost of tap water is $0.004 per gallon!
So what’s the best source for your water?
Based on the facts above, tap water is clearly the better choice due to its similarities in taste and quality to bottled water and its significantly lower price point. However, the best option is to have your water filtered by a home filtration system.
Installing a water filtration system like one of the products from Hague will give you access to the highest-quality and best-tasting water you can get while still benefiting from the low cost of tap water.
If you have any questions about bottled water vs. tap water, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants. We are the number one Hague dealer in North and South Carolina, servicing towns like Cornelius, Huntersville and Matthews, NC
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