There are many people who tout how much better bottled water is compared to tap water. In fact, everywhere I go, I see people carrying bottled water with them.  Aside from the fact that wasting plastic bottles is terrible for our planet, bottled water is insanely expensive. Some brands cost as much as 1900 times the price of tap water.

A recent study released by the Environment Working Group (EWG), showed that bottled water ccontains chemicals at levels that are normally found in tap water.  These chemicals included caffeine, bacteria, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making compounds, tylenol and even the radioactive element strontium.

The EWG study looked at 10 major brands and all except two met the California state standards for chlorine byproducts.  These two were: Acadia of Giant Food Supermarkets and Sam’s Choice sold by WalMart.  Both of these had three times the amout of chlorine byproducts as allowed by California.  In fact, the WalMart brand had five times the California state limit of bromodichlormethane, a known carcinogen.

The bottom line is that maybe bottled water isn’t worth all the hype.  Good old tap water with a filter attached to it may be just as good if not better.

References:

• Environmental Working Group: “Bottled Water Quality Investigation.” www.ewg.org