It is a question that has been asked a lot: “Is it better to drink from the bottle or from the tap?” The answer isn’t so clear cut but there are reasons to choose one from the other. For instance, bottled water is available almost anywhere and can quench your thirst quickly. But it’s a different situation at home where water is readily available from the tap – should bottled water still be purchased when there is a free resource?
One of the main draws of bottled water is that it advertises safety. It’s not hard to blame those who value water safety so highly for choosing the bottled variety. But is it truly the only safe option? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of bottled water.
List of Pros of Bottled Water
1. It can be carried around anywhere.
Hydration is very important, especially these days. The recommended eight glasses of water each day isn’t just something to ignore nowadays, and carrying around bottled water helps fulfill that. It doesn’t matter if you’re walking around the mall or are working out, it helps to keep drinking water. Given the portability (it comes in several sizes too) of bottled water, it makes the perfect companion to provide hydration throughout the day.
2. It can be stored easily.
Although it is recommended to refrigerate bottled water after purchasing, it is quite safe to store it in a cool area while still unopened. This is important especially in cases where large amounts of water need to be stored for emergency purposes. It is recommended that every family store water good for 72 hours as part of a basic emergency kit.
3. It is safe.
Bottled water, unlike tap water, has been tested and inspected by government agencies. This is definitely one of the main selling points of bottled water as water from the tap is easily contaminated. Some would even suggest buying bottled water when traveling rather than drinking from the tap. While bottled water may be generally safer, safety is not always a guarantee as well.
List of Cons of Bottled Water
1. It costs more than tap water.
Yes, you pay for utilities but comparing prices will show that stocking up on a lot of bottled water for your needs may be pricier than using water from the tap. Today, there are ways to filter water from the tap to make it safer for drinking.
2. It contains chemicals.
Bottled water with containers made of plastic may contain harmful chemicals like BPA which is believed to cause several diseases. This is the reason for the release of products that are BPA-free, particularly those targeted for small children.
3. It results in a lot of waste.
Some plastic bottles are not really designed to be used more than once. As such, this leads to a lot of waste. And this also leads to people preferring to bring their own recyclable bottles.
Bottled water offers a convenient way for us to keep hydrated throughout the day, particularly if we spend a lot of time outdoors. However, it’s also important to consider that although it is generally deemed safe, it may still have some quality issues due to the standards employed by its makers.
Crystal Lombardo is a contributing editor for Vision Launch. Crystal is a seasoned writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She has been an editor of three popular blogs that each have had over 500,000 monthly readers.
