Dispelling Bottled Water Myths: Why Tap Water Deserves More Trust
Based on the AWWA Opflow article “Dispelling Bottled Water Myths.” DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1002/opfl.70009
Bottled water has become a normal part of daily life for many people. Sales have grown every year, and more than 16 billion gallons were consumed in 2024. A lot of this growth comes from the belief that bottled water is cleaner or safer than tap water.
The truth is that drinking water in the United States is heavily regulated and monitored. Public water systems must meet strict rules, report results, and test water regularly. These standards make tap water one of the safest and most reliable resources in the country.
Tap water is regulated at every step
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets drinking water rules for public water systems. These rules cover 94 contaminants, including metals, chemicals, and pathogens. Utilities must follow treatment requirements, sampling schedules, and public reporting standards.
The EPA also has secondary standards to help with taste, smell, and color. These are not health-based, but they help utilities provide pleasant water for customers.
These regulations are updated as new information becomes available. Recent changes include new limits for PFAS and stronger monitoring requirements. The rules for tap water are more detailed and wide-ranging than those for bottled water.
Bottled water is not held to the same standards
Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not the EPA. FDA rules are different and in some cases less strict. Bottled water companies do not have to test as frequently or report results to the public the same way utilities do.
Research has shown that bottled water can contain contaminants such as uranium, arsenic, and radiological materials. In one study of 30 bottled water samples, more than half contained uranium and more than two-thirds contained arsenic. Some samples exceeded health-based limits.
There have also been several safety cases involving bottled water brands. In one example, a brand contained hydrazine, a chemical linked to liver and kidney problems. Another brand was connected to more than 20 cases of nonviral hepatitis. These incidents show that bottled water is not automatically safer than what comes from the tap.
Bottled water costs much more than tap water
EPA data shows the average cost of tap water is about 0.6 cents per gallon. Bottled water commonly costs one to three dollars per gallon. In many cases the price difference can be as high as 1,000 times.
Customers often pay for packaging, transportation, and branding, not for better water quality. Meanwhile, public water systems must keep rates affordable while maintaining treatment plants, pipelines, and monitoring programs.
Bottled water has a real environmental impact
Plastic bottle waste is a serious environmental problem. The photo in the Opflow article shows bottles scattered across a shoreline, which is a familiar scene in many places. Choosing tap water helps reduce plastic, lowers energy use, and cuts down on emissions from transportation and manufacturing.
Using a reusable bottle instead of single-use plastic can make a noticeable difference, especially over time.
Why tap water is reliable
Public water systems operate under layers of protection. These include:
- continuous water quality testing
- trained and certified operators
- routine sampling throughout the system
- required public reports
- oversight from state and federal regulators
Utilities are required to notify customers if there is a problem, explain what happened, and describe what is being done to fix it. This level of transparency is one of the strengths of the public water system.
The bottom line
Bottled water can be convenient, but it is not always safer, cleaner, or better than tap water. In many cases it is less regulated, more expensive, and harder on the environment.
Tap water is safe, affordable, and reliable. It is tested every day and held to some of the highest drinking water standards in the world. By choosing tap water, customers support their community, protect the environment, and save money at the same time.
To read the full AWWA Opflow article, visit: https://doi.org/10.1002/opfl.70009
