Why Bottled Water is Bad

“City water is gross.”

“Don’t drink tap water!”

“It’s got parasites in it.”

You’ve probably heard all sorts of concerning things about drinking tap water, some of which are warranted. Indeed, tap water can be contaminated, even after it has already been treated.

Thus, a lot of people stick to bottled water only. But is this really the best solution? The truth is that even with all the money you’re spending on it, it’s probably not doing you any favors.

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of why bottled water is bad — for you, your wallet, and the environment.

Why Bottled Water is Bad for Your Health

Or, it can be bad for your health, rather. But why?

Bottled water might not be all that cleaner than tap water. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) did a four-year review of the bottled water industry and the safety standards it’s supposed to abide by and found that there is no guarantee that it’s any safer than the water coming out of your tap. Shockingly, they estimated that at least 25% of bottled water is just tap water that’s been bottled! It wasn’t necessarily treated any more than what you’d get from the tap.

 

 

They tested 1,000 bottles and, thankfully, most of them were relatively clean. However, 22% contained chemicals at levels higher than the state health limits.

So, not only are you spending an arm and a leg on water that’s not all that different, but it could actually still be contaminated. 

Drinking Out of Plastic is Risky

That’s not all.

We have to consider the threat that drinking out of plastic poses. The specific type of plastic that’s commonly used in the construction of bottled water is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This can leach phthalates, microplastics, bisphenols, and antimony into the water, causing serious health problems.

There’s even more. The manufacturing and disposal of bottled water is a massive contributor to the 12 million tons of plastic that makes its way into the ocean every year, and that means…microplastics end up back in the water we drink.

It’s a feedback loop of the worst kind. We drink bottled water to avoid contaminants, thereby creating more contaminants, which end up in our drinking water, polluting it further.

Why Bottled Water is Bad for Your Wallet

Of course, this depends on what your bottled water costs, as prices vary. However, some estimates say that bottled water is somewhere between 240 and 10,000 times more expensive than tap water! 

It has little to do with the water itself, which might be coming from the same source as your own tap water. Rather, you’re helping pay for the manufacturing, materials, labor, and marketing. Then, there’s the markup from the retailers so that they can make a profit. All of these costs are passed on to you, the consumer.

Remember, you’re spending this for water that’s potentially no different than your drinking water at home, which costs significantly less.

Why Bottled Water is Bad for the Environment

We’ve already talked about how bottled water is contributing to the plastic in our oceans. But that’s not all.

The Pacific Institute found that in 2006, it took the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil to make plastic for bottled water in the US. This was enough to fuel more than a million cars and light trucks for a year.

80% of the water bottles we buy end up in landfills, adding up to more than two million tons of garbage. It can take around 450 years for a bottle to decompose. Meanwhile, we recycle less than 30% of these bottles.

Another scary fact? Recycling and reusing plastic is more expensive than starting all over from scratch. So, manufacturers don’t even have a financial incentive to reuse and recycle.

 

 

And we pay for this! Why? Bottled water is a lose-lose-lose situation.

What’s the Best Alternative?

Bottled water may be your best choice in a pinch — for example, when you’re on vacation and you already know that the tap water in that area isn’t the cleanest. But what about for everyday use when you’re at home?

You can protect your wallet, your health, and the environment by switching to purified water, but the type of filter you use matters.

Many of the water filters you’re probably familiar with simply don’t make the cut, including Brita and the filter that’s built into your refrigerator. But why? It comes down to the type of filtration.

The most powerful way to purify your drinking water is with reverse osmosis (RO), and most filters don’t use this. What ends up happening is the holes of the filter are still too big and allow all sorts of contaminants to sneak through.

With reverse osmosis, however, the filters are so fine and precise that the only thing that can get through is water molecules. 

It also helps to have an additional layer of protection in the form of UV-C light, which is the most effective defense against pathogens like viruses and bacteria. If you combine UV-C and RO, then you’re removing up to 99% of contaminants, like heavy metals, microplastics, arsenic, and forever chemicals. 

Purified Water, the Sans Way

Sans is the simplest solution for clean, pure drinking water. It utilizes the latest in reverse osmosis and UV-C technology, monitoring your water quality in real time. It instantly dispenses how water, automatically refills, and offers easy use in the form of a removable pitcher. Plus, the countertop design is sleek, modern, and inconspicuous. 

Learn more about how the Sans water purifier is bringing crystal-clear tap water to homes across the nation.