Which is better: tap water or bottled water?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:While bottled or filtered water may be better for plants, people can benefit from the fluorine in tap water. Learn more about this topic in this video by Dr. Oz.
While bottled or filtered water may be better for plants, people can benefit from the fluorine in tap water. Learn more about this topic in this video by Dr. Oz. More -
American Dental Association answered:Drinking community fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay by 30-50 percent. Most bottled waters do not have fluoride and therefore do not provide this protection against tooth decay.Drinking community fluoridated water helps prevent tooth decay by 30-50 percent. Most bottled waters do not have fluoride and therefore do not provide this protection against tooth decay. More -
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum answered:Many brands of bottled water are simply tap water, and cost has little to do with quality. But we need to have easy access to healthy water, so how can you tell what is best? When drinking bottled water, use water that is purified by reverse osmosis and carbon block filtration.
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Many brands of bottled water are simply tap water, and cost has little to do with quality. But we need to have easy access to healthy water, so how can you tell what is best? When drinking bottled water, use water that is purified by reverse... More -
Jodie Shield of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:Tap water and bottled water are both excellent healthy weight options, and both are safe for everyone in your family to drink because the government carefully regulates them to ensure they are free of contaminants and impurities. However, we should note one caveat about the safety of tap water: if you live in an older home or apartment complex, your home may have lead pipes, which could transfer lead to drinking water. In these situations, you can attach a filter to remove impurities to any faucets you use for drinking water.
The differences between tap water and bottled water therefore boil down primarily to taste and price. Some people do not like the taste of their local tap water. Often, they are reacting to the slight aftertaste of chlorine, which is used to clean tap water of impurities and microbial contaminants. Bottled water typically is not chlorinated; it’s disinfected in other ways. However, the taste of bottled water varies depending on factors like the original water source, the use of carbonation, or the mineral content. With regard to price, tap water is very inexpensive, costing just pennies a year. In comparison, the price of bottled water adds up quickly. For example, if an eight-ounce (one cup) bottle of water costs $1, and your child drinks eight cups a day, you’ll be spending $8 a day and $2,920 a year!
Another consideration in choosing between tap and bottled water is whether it is fluoridated. Some communities fortify their drinking water with fluoride, a mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Fluoridated tap water should contain 0.7 to 1 parts fluoride per 1 million parts water. Check with your county health department to find out how much fluoride is in your tap water. A few bottled waters are fortified with fluoride, but most are not. Read labels carefully.
Tap water and bottled water are both excellent healthy weight options, and both are safe for everyone in your family to drink because the government carefully regulates them to ensure they are free of contaminants and impurities. However, we... More -
RealAge answered:You should drink tap water instead of bottled water because:
- Tap water is tested daily. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, local water suppliers are required to test tap water daily and to provide an annual report on the quality of the water. By comparison, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examines bottled water only weekly, and consumers don't have access to the results. Get the lowdown on the quality of your state's drinking water.
- Tap water is a bargain. Bottled water costs about 500 times more than tap. And if you're into really fancy labels -- up to 1,000 times more.
- Tap water is a tooth saver. It has more fluoride than bottled water, and that helps prevent tooth decay. (That's right, you never outgrow your need for fluoride.)
- Tap water can be tasty. Some places (New York City for one) have delicious water, but if you don't love the flavor of your city's H2O, the solution is simple: Run your tap water through a Brita or Pur filter system to help remove unpleasant tastes and odors. The average home filter goes for $8.99 and produces the equivalent of 300 large (16.9 ounce) bottles of water before it needs to be replaced. That's about $0.03 cents a bottle versus the $1.25 or so you'd pay in a market.
One last thing: Don't just think about making this switch; actually do it. Today. It'll do the world -- and you -- good.
You should drink tap water instead of bottled water because: Tap water is tested daily. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, local water suppliers are required to test tap water daily and to provide an annual report on the quality of the water.... More
