Bottled Water vs Tap Water
Bottled Water Cost
5 Reasons Not to Drink Bottled Water
Bottled water works out to paying 5 cents and ounce for a 20 ounce bottle costing $1. In comparison, tap water costs less than 1 cent per gallon. The average price of gas in the United States is around $3 a gallon, or 2 cents an ounce, so you are paying over twice as much for bottled water by volume as you are for gasoline.
Bottled water works out to paying 5 cents and ounce for a 20 ounce bottle costing $1. In comparison, tap water costs less than 1 cent per gallon. The average price of gas in the United States is around $3 a gallon, or 2 cents an ounce, so you are paying over twice as much for bottled water by volume as you are for gasoline.
Pure Drink or Pure Hype?
A study of bottled water by the NRDC shows that in the US 60-70% of bottled water is exempted from the FDA's standards, 17% contained high levels of bacteria, and 22% contained levels of arsenic and other toxic chemicals too high to pass strict EPA safety standards.
A study of bottled water by the NRDC shows that in the US 60-70% of bottled water is exempted from the FDA's standards, 17% contained high levels of bacteria, and 22% contained levels of arsenic and other toxic chemicals too high to pass strict EPA safety standards.
EWG Bottled Water Scorecard
The government does not mandate that bottled water be any safer than tap water.
In fact, the chemical pollution standards are nearly identical.
The government does not mandate that bottled water be any safer than tap water.In fact, the chemical pollution standards are nearly identical.
Bottled Water Calculator
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“Because FDA's experience over the years has shown that bottled water has a good safety record, bottled water plants generally are assigned low priority for inspection.”FDA.org
Regulation: Bottled Water vs Tap Water
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| Issue | Bottled Water Regulated by FDA |
Tap Water Regulated by EPA |
| E. Coli | A certain amount of any bacteria is allowed. | Cannot have confirmed E. coli or fecal Coliform bacteria. |
| Filtration | No federal filtration or disinfection requirements. | Filtered and/or disinfected |
| Enforcement | Bottled water in violation of standards can still be sold. | Violation of drinking water standards are grounds for enforcement. |
| Testing | Such testing is not required for bottlers. | Utilities must have their water tested by certified labs. |
| Reporting | There are no reporting requirements for bottlers. | Tap water results must be reported to state or federal officials. |
| Certification | Bottled water plant operators do not have to be certified. | Water system operators must be certified. |
| Right-to-know | There are no public right-to-know requirements for bottlers. | Water suppliers must issue consumer confidence reports annually. |
| Expense | Costs $.80 to $4.00 per gallon. | Costs pennies a day. |
| Nutrition | Natural minerals are removes by filtration. | Contains essential nutrients for the body such as calcium and iron. |
| Bacteria | No disinfectant present to kill bacteria in bottles. | Chlorine residual in water to prevent bacteria growth. |
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