As well know the world revolves around money. First, one should compare the cost of tap water (pennies a day) to the cost of bottled water, which varies from approximately 80 cents to four dollars a day. So, now the question becomes, is the extra cost of bottled water worth it? First, we’ll examine the history and logistics of the water industry and lastly, we’ll try an experiment that could save you money and provide adequate health benefits.
One needs to consider the fact that the bottled water and tap water industry are regulated by two different agencies. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the bottled water industry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) governs America’s tap water.
The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 first gave regulatory oversight to the EPA of public drinking water. And often times when the EPA sets new standards the FDA adopts the same policies. There are a lot of similarities between the two, but minor differences should not go unnoticed.
The major difference that bottled water advocates want consumers to embrace, and as recent sales show they have, is that bottles offer more water and less lead. With tap water it is not uncommon for lead to leach from the pipes into the water as it passes from the main source to our faucets. The EPA is aware of this and sets a standard of 15 parts per billion (ppb) or lower of lead in the water. The FDA appears to take this threat more seiously by requiring manufacturers to operate at a level of or lower than 5 ppb. Moves like this and other acts like the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) seem to place bottled water a step ahead of its counterpart, tap water.
But there are still so many other factors that need to be considered before choosing between the bottle and your faucet. One benefit that tap offers is fluoride. Many communities across the country elect to add this ingredient to their water supply to promote healthy teeth. Studies find that the majority of bottled water companies lose this additive through processes of osmosis or distillation. Consumers of bottled water with children ages 7-16 should be cautious if relying on bottled water as the major source of hydration. Children’s bodies are still growing and a fluoride deficiency could have detrimental effects on their teeth.
Other factors that should be considered include filtration and disinfectant methods, testing and results reported, and the repercussions of failure to meet the accepted standards. When looked at it as a whole it appears the EPA (tap water) operates on a stricter scale than the FDA (bottled water.)
The EPA regulates the filtration and disinfectant methods of all tap water while the FDA follows no certain federal guidelines when overseeing such procedures. Each year public water facilities must have their utilities tested by certified lab technicians and then the results are reported to the state or federal government. The FDA also makes the water bottling plants test their water but doesn’t require “certified” lab technicians OR reports to the government. And if these results yielded subpar quality there is no law prohibiting the further sales of the unsatisfactory water.
Of course most of these factors never come into play as both industries continuously strive for clean, healthy water. But it’s good to know who is acting under a higher code of conduct in the event of emergency regulation.
If you’re one of those people who claim to be able to find a distinction between the taste of tap water and bottled water here’s an experiment for you that could save you some money. Find some empty water bottles and clean them out thoroughly. After they have been cleaned, fill them all to the brim with your tap water. Then place them in the refrigerator over night, or for at least eight hours. Most of the people that find a distinct taste seperating bottle from tap are complaining about the chlorine residual in tap that actually sanitizes the water and protects it from bacteria (an ingredient most bottled water lacks). After an extended amount of time in your fridge the chorinated taste will dissinate, so you will no longer be able to taste it but you can still reap the benefits of having clean, sanitized water.
