What type of water do you drink? Tap, bottled, distilled, or filtered?

United States
January 3, 2012 10:36pm CST
Although government provided water (i.e. tap water) in the US is among the highest in quality in the world and is considered very safe, there are still a multitude of pollutants and toxins present once the water reaches your house. Many reputable sources have also noted the presence of pharmaceuticals in the water, which may be causing diseases in healthy people. Some of these particles may remain in the water supply due to the lack of removal techniques used in the water treatment process, while others may occur due to debris and leaks in the pipe system. However, that said, is bottled water any better than tap water? Many researchers have concluded that bottled water may not be any cleaner than tap water. Even if it tastes better, that has nothing to do with quality. The aesthetic quality of water (which includes taste and color), often have nothing to do with the safety or quality of the water! Indeed, bottled water may be more dangerous than tap water due to storage in plastic bottles and the leaching of the chemicals in the plastic into the water. The bottles are stored for long periods of time in warehouses or trucks that may or may not have proper climate control, and heat can cause the bottles to leach plastic chemicals even more heavily. Additionally, bottled water is extremely expensive, and plastic bottles are bad for the environment. Filtering water in your own home is a more cost effective way of treating tap water so that it is somewhat cleaner and may taste better. Although most water filters use plastic containers, it's not a significant source of plastic leaching since it's usually kept in a relatively cool place. Distilling your tap water is probably the best way of ensuring that you are drinking the purest water possible. However, distilling units can cost several hundred dollars! So, do you drink tap, bottled, distilled, or filtered water? Personally, I drink filtered water as I can't afford my own water distiller, I think tap water tastes funny, and I find bottled water wasteful.
2 responses
@franne32 (694)
• Philippines
4 Jan 12
I drink filtered water because that's what we have here at home. We are careful not to drink unfiltered water especially the kids. It's safe and cost effective.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 12
Agreed! I think it's so important that kids eat and drink the safest products possible. But, it's so hard these days!
@Ki1ljoy (11)
16 Jan 12
I drink filtered water for the most part. Not only because it tastes good but it's healthy. Besides, if I drink tap water there's this nagging thought in the back of my head that I'll get sick. (Incurably sick perhaps) On top of that the tap water where I am tastes a bit metallic. Yuck. The bottled water I've heard it's just as good(or bad) as tap water. Tastes better but when it comes to good or not I don't think it matters. So to be safe and get the water I want to drink before I die of thirst. Then it's filtered water all the way.