Tap Water Or Bottled - Which Is Better?

Stephanie Vangsness, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., C.N.S.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Previously published on Intelihealth.com, August 24, 2004
Reviewed October 2009
Click here for a printable format.

• Water-Quality Regulation
• An Individual Choice
• The Bottom Line

Nutritionists are often asked, "Which is better: tap water or bottled water?" Surprisingly, very little
objective, credible research exists to answer this question. This means that deciding which
water to drink, be it tap or bottled, involves personal principle and an effort to find out what's in
your water.

Selling water has become an industry. In fact, bottled water has surpassed all other beverages as the
fastest growing commercial beverage sold in America. In 2002, bottled-water companies launched a
direct-mail marketing campaign, sending out millions of postcards touting the benefits of bottled water.
They claim that bottled water is "one of the safest, most regulated food products on earth." Americans
appear to have heeded that message, spending over $8 billion on bottled water in 2003. But the
question remains: Is bottled water better?

Water-Quality Regulation

Two different groups govern the quality of drinking water in the United States. The Food and
Administration sets standards for bottled water, while the Environmental Protection Agency
sets standards for tap water. Side-by-side there are very few differences between these two
sets of guidelines. However, proponents of both bottled water and tap water would have you
believe otherwise.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is a consortium of bottled-water companies that
joined forces to promote and help regulate the bottled-water industry. They created a policy called
"The Model Bottled Water Regulation," (available at www.bottledwater.org). All companies in the
IBWA abide by these regulations and claim that bottled water is subject to certain standards that
are more aggressive than those governing tap water. No third-party investigations have
demonstrated that bottled water passes more safety and health checks before reaching
the consumer.

In fact, certain concerns exist about the quality of bottled water. For example, no standard requirements
exist to test bottled water for certain parasites, such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia. (Standards to test
for these things do exist for tap water.) These contaminants could pose a health threat to certain people
with compromised immune systems. Cancer patients who have undergone a stem-cell or bone-marrow
transplant and people with HIV/AIDS are often cautioned to avoid bottled water because of this risk.
Otherpeople, including premature infants and the frail elderly should follow their medical providers'
advice about which drinking water is safest for them.

In 1999, The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) conducted a four-year study looking at the
difference between safety standards for bottled water versus tap water. They tested over 1,000 bottles
of 103 different brands of bottled water and concluded, "There is no assurance that just because water
comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap." The results of this study
estimated that 25 percent or more of bottled water is actually bottled tap water, "sometimes further
treated, sometimes not." Read the full report.

Certain concerns also exist about levels of contaminants in tap water. Levels of bacteria and
contaminants in tap water differ depending on where you live. The cleanliness and quality of
tap water is subject to issues of environmental politics. In 2003 the current presidential
administration proposed changes to the Clean Water Act. These proposed changes favor
industry, and if they become law they threaten to increase pollution and potential contamination
in city water supplies. Read the full report on the 2003 NRDC of tap water and the concerns about
quality of tap water. Various filtration systems are available that aim to reduce contaminants in tap
water. For more information on which filter to choose, visit the site of the Children's Health
Environmental Coalition.

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An Individual Choice

For some, the decision to buy bottled water or drink tap water is as simple as considering the cost
differential. The NRDC reports that a five-year supply of bottled water costs more than $1,000,
whereas the same amount of tap water costs $1.65. For others, concern about the environmental
impact of the 1.5 million tons of plastic used each year to bottle water encourages them to choose
tap water. Still others prefer the convenience of bottled water and choose it as a healthier alternative
to soda, especially when dining out or grabbing a beverage on the go.

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The Bottom Line

Choosing bottled water or tap water is an individual choice. One is not necessarily better than the other.
People who may have a weakened immune system, (such as cancer patients who have undergone a
stem-cell or bone-marrow transplant and people with HIV/AIDS) should consult their health care
professional to discuss whether filtered tap water or bottled water is best.

Whether you choose tap water or bottled water, here are a few things you can do to increase your
awareness of the safety and health concerns in the water you consume.

• Request a copy of the annual water-quality report from your city or town. A brochure called
  "Making Sense of Your Right to Know Report" can be found online at
  www.safe-drinking-water.org/rtk.html. This guide makes reading and understanding the
  report much easier. A glossary of the terms used in the report can be found at
  www.epa.gov/safewater/glossary.htm.
• If you decide to filter your tap water, make sure to choose a filter that is certified by the
  NSF, formerly known as the National Sanitation Foundation, to remove the type of
  contaminants thought to be in your water. Be sure to change the filter according to
  manufacturer's directions.
• If you choose bottled water you may want to identify the source of that water as
  well as learn more about how the bottling company tests for quality and lack of
  contaminants. This information is not usually listed on the bottle, but can be tracked
  down by calling or writing the bottler or the bottled-water program in the state where
  the water was packaged.
• Despite the urban legend, plastic bottles do not leach harmful levels of carcinogens
  (cancer-causing substances) into bottled water. At the same time, it seems prudent
  to avoid repeatedly reusing plastic water bottles meant for single use.

Additional educational information on bottled water and tap water is available at NSF International
(www.nsf.org), a nonprofit, nongovernmental agency addressing public health issues.

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