Tap water vs. bottled—what should you drink?

Bottled water has been around longer than you might think. In Europe, glass bottles filled with water can be traced back to the 1500s. In the United States, the first water bottles were sold in the 1700s.

These days, many of those bottles are plastic, of course—and thanks to a boom in demand beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, they’re everywhere. According to a 2023 report put out by the United Nations University Institute (UNU) for Water, Environment, and Health, the worldwide market for bottled water increased by 73 percent during the 2010s.

In 2021, the global market for the three main types of bottled water (treated, sparkling, and mineral water) was around $270 billion. In the U.S. alone, revenue reached about $64 billion.

The environmental impact of plastic water bottles

Globally, over 85 percent of bottles made with the most common plastic bottle material—polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—are not recycled, per the UNU report.

More than 50 billion plastic water bottles are purchased in the U.S. each year. Most are eventually incinerated or go to a landfill, where they take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. Many millions of others end up as litter, dropped in waterways and strewn across forests, beaches, and roadsides.

Producing just one plastic water bottle takes about a quarter-bottle’s worth of crude oil, according to National Geographic. In the U.S., the oil used to produce bottles could keep 1 million cars fueled for a year.

What’s more, between 2 to 4 liters of water are required to make each liter of bottled water. One of the many consequences of this heavy water usage is the depletion of groundwater in areas of the world experiencing water shortages.

In terms of environmental impact, it’s best to avoid using disposable plastic water bottles altogether. If you can’t, recycling helps mitigate their effects—and reusing and reducing are even better. Invest in a couple of portable, dishwasher-safe, stainless-steel bottles that won't leach chemicals into your water. (If you continue using plastic water bottles, beware of refilling one you just emptied, since PET breaks down with multiple uses.)

More reasons to turn on the tap

Besides being harmful to the environment, the UNU report points out that the common assumption that bottled water is always safe and pure is “misleading.” While it’s true that bottled water is generally safe, the way plastic bottles are stored can affect their quality.

And many types of contaminants have been detected in commercial water samples, across countries and brands of water. This includes inorganic (like heavy metals), organic (like pesticides and microplastics), and microbiological (like bacteria) contaminants. For example, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic organic compounds used in manufacturing and sometimes found in bottled and drinking water. PFAS are colorless, odorless, and flavorless, and linked to a greater risk of thyroid disease and some cancers, among other health issues. An at-home filter can help reduce PFAS in drinking water.

Here are five more reasons to turn to tap water instead.

Tap water is tested more frequently

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, local water suppliers are required to test tap water regularly and to provide an annual report on the quality of the water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets and enforces the legal limits for over 90 contaminants. For some contaminants, like coliform bacteria, tap water is tested daily or even more frequently. By comparison, the FDA requires that bottled water be tested for coliform only weekly, and consumers don't have access to the results.

Tap water contains far fewer microplastics

That’s according to a 2022 narrative review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Tap water is a bargain

Depending on the brand and type of bottled water, it can cost between 500 and 10,000 times more than tap.

Tap water can be a tooth saver

In many communities where fluoridation is practiced, tap water has more fluoride than bottled water—and that helps prevent tooth decay and cavities.

Tap water can be tasty

Some places—even New York City!—have water considered by many people to be delicious. But if you don't love the flavor of your area’s water, the solution is simple: Run your tap water through a filter system to help remove unpleasant tastes and odors. This can also reduce PFAS.

A quality, pitcher-style home filter or reliable faucet-mounted filter can be purchased for as little as $20 in some areas, plus the cost of ongoing filtration. Refrigerator water filters come in a variety of types and can also yield savings.

To improve your health, save money, and help the environment, make the switch to tap water today.