When people have to choose between bottled water and tap water, they tend to choose what seems to be the healthier choice. Bottled water is definitely convenient, and most people think that it is purer than it is. Tap water, on the other hand, has a reputation for having contaminants. But in reality, both have issues concerning health.
First of all, bottled water is made of plastic. It is not just an environmental problem that everyone thinks of. The plastic from the bottled water itself can contain microplastics and other chemicals, which tap water is generally free from. When someone drinks bottled water, it is the same as taking the risk of drinking tap water contaminants. The reason bottled water seems to be the healthier choice is that it is known to remove impurities, which is the opposite of what tap water does. Of course, if in a certain area tap water is reported to be contaminated, bottled water would be the healthier choice in this context. But tap water has its benefits too.
Tap water does not have the risk of microplastics like bottled water. People also don’t really understand how tap water has strict regulations, because they only know of its reputation for being impure. Tap water actually has stricter regulations than bottled water does. The Environmental Protection Agency tests the water regularly for any contaminants, and usually, tap water is safe to drink. Conversely, the Food and Drug Administration tests way less. Tap water even naturally has all the added minerals that make bottled water popular, and does not have to report any issues to the public. The safety of tap water is transparent to the public.
Another important factor is that fluoride is often added to tap water for dental health. Bottled water lacks this. Bottled water also lacks environmental sustainability due to its being made of plastic. This compares to tap water, which does not waste plastic and is way cheaper. Since many people would choose bottled water because it is marketed as good for them, it can actually be so overpriced for its quality.
People should stop continuing this misconception that bottled water is a guaranteed better choice than tap water. Since it is guaranteed to know whether the tap water in any area is safe or not, people can decide for themselves whether bottled water or tap water is better in their context. But generally, tap water is the better choice when looking at its environmental, health, and cost factors.
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