You can never be sure if bottled water is better than tap water. The first thing to keep in mind is that tap water and bottled water both come from the same source. The only difference is that bottled water is filtered again. However, taste and scientific testing fail to show any differences between the two. The next thing to consider is the use of plastic bottles. Estimations indicate that close to 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to make all those plastic bottles. The energy used to manufacture and transport 89 billion litres of water annually does exhaust fossil fuel reserves quite a bit. Do not fill landfills with plastic bottles. It contains a substance called phthalate which is used to soften plastic.
The convenience of the bottle however is a plus point when it comes to bottled water. Having it in a plastic bottle makes it easy to carry around. Additives to bottled water enhance the properties of the water. Added calcium and magnesium for example aid recovery after sports. Therefore, it is hard to decide between the two. If considering convenience and added properties, then bottled water wins – however, filling a glass or metal bottle with filtered water will ensure that you are drinking the cleanest water in the most environmentally responsible way. It is important to reject consumers’ bottle-buying habit. This will ensure that they are helping the environment while helping to bring in higher quality tap water.