Bottled water is just about everywhere you look. You might find it at grocery stores, gas stations, or even some restaurants, and many people think it’s purer than normal tap water. Unfortunately, research has indicated that bottled water is not necessarily any safer, especially because it’s not regulated by the EPA’s drinking water regulations. City water is often more regulated than tap water because the FDA can’t regulate any water that’s sold in the same state where it’s bottled.

At least tap water must pass strict guidelines and be free from contamination with potentially harmful substances like lead, arsenic, and microbials. In many cases, bottled water even comes from exactly the same source as tap water, and has just undergone one more minor filtering process. That might come as a surprise if you think your bottled water comes from crisp, cold, beautiful waterfalls in the mountains. Worst of all, the single-use plastic bottle could pose a health risk.

Are There Microplastics in Bottled Drinking Water?

A recent study by Sherri Mason at State University of New York Fredonia showed that most bottled water is picking up microplastics from the plastic bottle it comes in. If you drink that tainted water, you’re also swallowing the plastics right along with it. Amy Martyn from Consumer Affairs has highlighted the study, especially the fact that 93% of the bottles analyzed seemed to have microplastics in the water.

With more people drinking bottled water now than ever before (bottled water is the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry), an increasing number of people are at risk of ingesting microplastics. In presenting her study, Mason said she believes most of the microplastics in the water are coming directly from the bottles themselves.

The plastic cap, the industrial process used to bottle water, and more factors are all opportunities to get plastic particles in water. It doesn’t even take a long time for bottled water contamination to occur– microplastics can get into the water as soon as it’s bottled.

Are Water Bottles BPA-Free?

BPA, or bisphenol-A, can seep into water from the plastic bottles it comes in. The Mayo Clinic has released statements about how harmful BPA can be, especially in children. Most water bottles are marketed as being BPA-free, but some researchers think water bottle companies are just replacing BPA with equally harmful chemicals.

Other Reasons Not to Drink Bottled Water

Even beyond the health risks, there are a lot of good reasons not to drink bottled water anymore, especially when it comes in plastic bottles.

Not only does plastic from water bottles pollute your body, but it also pollutes the environment. Producing and transporting plastic water bottles is a massive energy drain that has negative environmental impacts. Beyond that, the majority of plastic water bottles end up in landfills, oceans, and other places they shouldn’t be. People are consuming millions of plastic bottles every hour, and even the ones that get recycled take a lot of energy to process.
Blind taste tests have demonstrated that bottled water doesn’t even taste better than tap water. One such taste test happened because Fiji made an advertising campaign about how “the label says Fiji because it’s not bottled in Cleveland.” Cleveland responded by testing Fiji water, and they found 6.31 micrograms of arsenic. They also held a taste test between Fiji bottled water and city tap water. It turns out they should, in fact, be bottling their water in Cleveland, because the tap water won.
Bottled water is a waste of money. There are a lot of different price points for bottled water, which should already be a red flag considering most of them come from the same source as city water. This isn’t one of those cases where you get what you pay for, either. Bottled water can cost hundreds or thousands of times more than tap water, and some bottled water companies are selling water at a price per ounce that’s higher than what you’d pay for gasoline.

Are There Microplastics in Drinking Water From the Tap?

Unfortunately, a lot of tap water samples also show some signs of microplastics. That said, there seem to be much less plastic particles in tap water than there are in bottled water. Even with traces of microplastics, many researchers agree that tap water is at least just as healthy and safe as bottled water. Some parts of the United States have struggled with problems involving their tap water, but most places have excellent drinking water straight from the tap. The question is, though, how can we make our tap water even better?

How to Remove Microplastics From Tap Water

The best way to avoid plastic particles in water is to get your own water treatment system at home. Drinking water filtration systems can take your normal tap water and turn it into something far better than even the best bottled water. With a home water filter, you can remove the contaminants from the water by yourself, and you no longer have to trust bottled water companies to do it for you. Now you’ll know exactly where your water is coming from, and you can have complete peace of mind that it’s pure and safe.

But What If I Need Water on the Go?

One of the most convenient things about bottled water, and the reason so many people use it, is that it’s very easy when you’re on the go. People might grab a bottle before heading out for a walk, going to the gym, or taking a car ride. The good news is that even the most expensive reusable water bottles will pay for themselves by the time they save you from buying a few plastic water bottles.

When you get a reusable water bottle, we recommend finding one that’s not made out of plastics– after all, you wouldn’t want to deal with all the same health risks of bottled water. There are several benefits to getting a reusable plastic water bottle and filling it from your home water filtration system:

You save a lot of money, especially over time.
You know the real source of your water, and know that it is safe.
You reduce your environmental impact and put less plastic into landfills.
Your water will likely stay cold longer in a good reusable bottle than it could in a plastic bottle.

Avoid Bottled Water Contamination With a Filtered Water System

We at Aqua Science are proud to be one of the leading providers of filtered water systems in the United States and Canada. We carry products from all the top brands and can set you up with the perfect option to fit your needs. In addition to providing the best water quality for your home, we’re completely committed to offering the lowest prices available. We believe that everyone deserves clean, safe water, so we make it accessible with great deals.

Water is one of the most important things your body needs, and the people responsible for it should be available for honest, open communication with you. Any time you contact us, we’ll get you connected to a real person as soon as possible.

Call us today for a free evaluation! (480) 454-3700

Image Credit: Shutterstock By Malivan_Iuliia