The more we learn about bottled water, the more we realize that it is not as safe of an alternative to tap water as people used to think. One of the biggest issues with bottled water is the amount of chemicals that it contains. Today we’re going to talk about how chemicals get into bottled water and why installing a home filtration system is a much better way to have access to healthy water!
How do chemicals get into bottled water?
Chemicals get into bottled water in two different ways. First, certain chemicals (like THM’s) are present in the water that gets bottled in the first place. Given the fact that a lot of bottled water is simply bottled tap water, many of the common chemicals that are found in tap water are also found in bottled water.
The second way that chemicals get into bottled water is from the plastic that the bottles are made of. Plastic contains many different types of chemicals, and those chemicals can leech off of the bottles and get into the water they contain.
How many chemicals are there in bottled water?
According to a recent study, a single bottle of water contains nearly 25,000 different chemicals! Many of these chemicals mimic the effects of pharmaceuticals on our bodies, and they can interfere with our hormone receptors. The study found that tap water showed no such effects.
For small children, women of child-bearing age and pregnant women, the chemicals in bottled water have been shown to increase the risk of:
- Stunted growth
- Early puberty
- Premature birth
- Infertility
- Early menopause
For everyone else, the chemicals in bottled water have been linked to an increase risk of:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Certain types of cancer
Why is a home filtration system a better alternative to bottled water?
If you want to avoid the chemicals in bottled water but you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water, the best solution is to install a home water filtration system. A filtration system provides cleaner water than bottled water anyway, and it will allow you to avoid the chemicals found in plastic bottles.
If you’re looking for a way to bring your filtered water on the go, consider buying a BPA-free refillable water bottle. This will combine the quality of home-filtered water with the convenience of bottled water!
If you have any questions about the chemicals in bottled water, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact North Carolina Water Consultants, your North and South Carolina dealer of water filtration and water softening systems.