Facts about bottled water

I know I am being a bit provocative but if you pick up bottled water and then compare bottled water vs. tap water vs. filtered water you're gonna feel like the fool who scored the foot-long hot dog with eight inches missing in the center

Ok, just ask yourself this question. Why are you buying bottled water? Here are your possible replies:

1) It's safer and better for you than kitchen water

When comparing bottled water vs. tap water, well, that's just one of the myths accepted as a fact about bottled water.

Here's what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. observed about the safety of bottled water:

Companies that market bottled water as being safer than sink water are fooling the consuming people.

As a matter of fact, there are no governmental standards for bottled water that require it be safer than tap water. Governmental rules for tap water are in place and usually assure some degree of quality in the available faucet water. So, when trying to decide upon buying bottled water vs. tap water, choosing the former may be the better choice.

2) Oh, I drink bottled water that's been filtered

Most bottled water is not purified. In contrast, city tap water is filtered and disinfected. But if you happen to be getting bottled water that is filtered, good for you.

If it's the product I sometimes go for, I am certain the price is even steeper than the cheaper bottled water.

But there is still a problem. Filtration is not all the same. Very good filters get rid of the live, very dangerous contaminants, the inert, extremely toxic metals, very small pollutants and the sediment that affects taste and quality of the water.

There are cheaper purifiers that basically get rid of bigger sedimentary particles that slightly discolor water but really do little else. Most commercially filtered water tends to filter on the cheap.

3) Since it's a food product, there are governmental standards that guarantee its quality

Nah, not really. In fact, a strategy employed by bottled water companies is to sell its water inside the state that it's bottled in so that federal regulations do not apply.

In fact, between 2/3 to 3/4 of the bottled water sold is in the state it's bottled in. Most likely you are consuming water with no affiliated federal regulations to assure its safety.

4) It's better than the usual drinks available at the store

Well, that's a tricky one. Its better than the really bad drinks. You know the colas, mile-high iced teas and fake fruit drinks that are in lots of kid's lunch packs.

But, if you went to a health food store, you can probably pick up some fresh fruit/veggie juice, or a sprout-based drink, really healthy water and so on.

I will admit, that it might cost an awful lot but what's your health worth to you?

5) It's pretty inexpensive

Compared to what? Some trendy drink, maybe. Not when comparing bottled water vs. tap water that is filtered ($1 - $2 vs. 9 cents)

But it's about the same cost as the soft drinks that litter store shelves.

To me, this is one of the most perplexing aspects of the bottled water market. We are gleeful that we are being offered what is essentially free tap water for a dollar or so per bottle.

Think of it. If you bought a bottle on most days and two bottles or larger ones on days that you need more, you would be paying between $300 - $700 a year on water that is less healthy than faucet water.

6) It's convenient

Oh, spare me. I've done the math on this because, like you, my time is very important.

It takes me a minute to fill up my water bottle with filtered water from my faucet. I can even make a sandwich in just a few minutes.

That is much easier and faster than the time required to dash to the deli, maybe wait on a noon lunch line, order and/or pay for my water and/or lunch.

7) I have no better option to bottled water

Again, if you are most likely to chug cola, yes. But you don't have to have the bottled water from the store when you could just bottle your own filtered water in a reusable bottle.

8)Hey, at least it forces me to drink the needed amount of water I should drink daily

Finally, I agree with you, mostly.

Hey, if it's a choice between drinking nothing and suffering from dehydration or chugging expensive, land polluting, minimally safe bottled water, well you should go ahead and get a container of water.

This should only happen occasionally. For example, if I'm exercising in hot weather and there's no water available nearby, I'll just go and get a bottle of water from wherever.

Hey, it's either that or suffer the more serious consequences of dehydration in warm weather. That could lead to all types of health crises that must be avoided at all costs.

And, I'll give you credit because at least you didn't say that it's "Green." That, I'm certain, never crossed your mind. How could it?

9) Oh, it's green

Say what? Look, this is one of the bottled water facts we haven't delved into that you should know about.

Drinking bottled water causes an unbelievable amount of pollution. In fact, about a million plastic bottles are disposed of daily, it is one of the major culprits when it comes to pollution.

Imagine, what about a hundred million empty plastic water bottles looks like, heading direct for the landfill. You know, generally the fill that is not recycle-ready since many water bottles are disposed of in all-purpose wastebaskets along with non-recyclables.

So, if for no other reason, the pollution that follows from this mega consumption of drinking bottled water should lead us to other alternatives.

Ok, so maybe those of you buying bottled water from the store aren't complete losers but I really hope this article encourages you to act on the real bottled water facts and stop purchasing bottled water which has serious drawbacks and few virtues.

About the Author:
Salvator Giustra is a Health Researcher who has written extensively on supplementation. For more on vitamin supplementation, visit Taking vitamins and supplements.