Differences Between Bottled Water & Tap Water

In July 2009, the House Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. Congress reviewed two studies that questioned the merits of bottled water vs. tap water. According to The New York Times, the committee requested more information from 13 bottled water companies concerning where their water came from and how they tested it. The members of Congress aren't alone in their confusion; many average consumers are misinformed as well. Though beverage companies market bottled water as a healthy alternative to tap, many environmental groups and scientists refute that claim.

Taste

The quality and taste of U.S. tap water varies by state, city and municipality. However, a blind taste test conducted by ABC News in 2005 showed that people in New York who said they preferred the taste of bottled water over tap actually couldn't tell the difference. Many who claimed they didn't like tap water actually did when they couldn't see what it was.

Regulation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) polices bottled water. Water utilities that provide tap water are required by the EPA to release annual reports that identify the source of tap water, its contaminants and potential health hazards. The FDA does not require the bottled water industry to make these disclosures.

Contamination

In 2005, University of New Hampshire microbiologist Aaron Margolin tested New York City tap water and five national brands of bottled water. He reported "no difference" between tap and any of the brands. According to ABC News, many other scientific studies have concluded that tap water and bottled water have no significant differences.

Environmental Impact

Environmental groups like Earth Policy Institute (EPI) point out a major difference between bottle and tap water: the bottles. Their plastic is manufactured with polyethylene terepthalate, which is derived from crude oil. EPI researcher Emily Arnold told National Geographic in 2010 that it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to meet the demand of bottled water in America. The Container Recycling Institute reports that 86 percent of those bottles are not recycled.

Cost

In 2009, New York State Senator Liz Krueger noted on her website that tap water costs consumers less than one cent a gallon. Bottled water can run as high as $10 per gallon. She also notes that the cost of recycling bottles is a financial burden on many New York municipalities.

References

• ABC News: Is bottled water better than tap?
• The New York Times
• National Geographic: bottled water isn't healthier than tap
• Senator Liz Krueger: expanded bottle bill