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Answer:

Some people consider bottled water to be a favorable alternative to tap water based on its convenience, preferred taste, and perceived health benefit. Certainly in situations where there is a known problem with local tap water — such as excessive lead — bottled or filtered water is preferred. In fact, bottled water must meet stricter limits for lead content compared to tap water (5 ppb vs 15 ppb) (FDA, 4/22/2022; EPA, 10/22/2024). Tap water is also more likely to contain higher levels of chlorine than bottled waters, and chlorine is a taste issue for many consumers. However, some other perceived benefits of bottled water are not well supported by research, and some bottled water may be more likely to adversely affect oral health compared to tap water, as discussed below.

Sign in as a member for details about whether bottled water (including distilled water) tastes better than tap water, including a comparison of the mineral content of bottled still and sparkling water compared to tap water, acidity of bottled vs tap water, and microplastics and PFAS in bottled and tap water.

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35 Comments

susan21743
January 27, 2025

Does sparkling water that you make at home have a different PH from the tap water you start with? In other words , does adding the gas to tap water change the PH?

ConsumerLab.com
January 31, 2025

Great question! When carbon dioxide (CO2) is added to water to make sparkling water, the CO2 and water react to form a weak acid, which lowers the pH of the water.

Mat21216
November 27, 2024

I would like to know the benefits (or detriments) of a reverse osmosis drinking water system. We have one in our home, and I have a concern that beneficial minerals might be lost vs tap water.

ConsumerLab.com
December 10, 2024

Thank you for your question. For information about the potential pros and cons of reverse osmosis water filtration, please our article about PFAS, which includes information about filters for removing PFAS from water: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/toxic-pfas-chemicals-in-dental-floss/pfas-dental-floss/#which-filters-work-better

Nell21191
November 25, 2024

What about distilled water
Do you have any information on which brands are safe

ConsumerLab.com
December 09, 2024

We have not tested distilled water, but we've added information about the pros and cons of this type of bottled water to the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/is-bottled-water-better-than-tap-water/bottled-water-vs-tap-water/#distilled-water

Joyce21188
November 25, 2024

Bottled water doesn’t have fluoride.

ConsumerLab.com
December 03, 2024

Certain bottled water brands do include fluoride, but typically in lower quantities than those found in tap water. See the following section of our article for details: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/is-bottled-water-better-than-tap-water/bottled-water-vs-tap-water/#fluoride

Doug21178
November 24, 2024

Arrowhead water is drawn from different wells with different mineral content, but they only have one water quality report for all of their water and the source is not on the label. Thus, you really don't know what you are getting when you buy Arrowhead bottled water. One of the worst things about bottled water is most all of now it comes in plastic bottles. If you can afford it and it's available in your area, you can buy bottled water packaged in glass bottles. While you can recycle small plastic bottles where I live, the glass bottles used for water are generally not recyclable. This is a shame in my opinion.

Frank21172
November 24, 2024

Would have liked to see measures of fluoride content if any in the bottled waters given the recent health concerns of this substance.

ConsumerLab.com
December 03, 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We have updated our article to include information on the fluoride content in bottled water in the following section: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/is-bottled-water-better-than-tap-water/bottled-water-vs-tap-water/#fluoride

Marcin21170
November 24, 2024

Great subject. Are there any studies on the amount of microplastics (incl. phthalates) in natural salts? Should sea salt be avoided or substituted by salt mined from deep deposits?

ConsumerLab.com
November 24, 2024

Please see our article about microplastics in salts, water, and other beverages and foods https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/plastic-particles-in-drinking-water-and-salt/microplastics-water-salt/.

Ann21169
November 24, 2024

Tap water content and thus taste varies significantly by geographic location, so without specificity in terms of where water was obtained the comparisons are useless.

ConsumerLab.com
December 10, 2024

Thank you for your feedback. We've added additional information about the sources of tap water used in the studies comparing the taste of bottled vs. tap water.

Trebor21163
November 23, 2024

I never considered bottled water to offer nutritional benefits. However, other than a discussion of microplastics, you seemed to have completely ignored whether bottled water might be "cleaner" than tap water. Perhaps you've forgotten Flint, Michigan, St. Joseph, Louisiana and others. Perhaps you've also forgotten that around the world, there is a problem with aging water system infrastructures. I'm not pushing bottled water but you seem to have treated the subject very superficially.

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

We appreciate your feedback! The article has been revised to specify that for those residing in areas with known tap water issues, such as excessive lead, bottled or filtered water is the preferred option.

phyllis21143
November 21, 2024

My understanding is that microplastics leach from the plastic water bottles, not just the caps. Also where do the microplastics come from in tap water?

ConsumerLab.com
December 03, 2024

Microplastics can enter drinking water supplies in a number of ways, as explained here: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wash-documents/microplastics-in-dw-information-sheet190822.pdf

Carl21141
November 20, 2024

One thing not mentioned and might not be significant, but wouldn't you be drinking a lot more micro-plastics with plastic bottles?

ConsumerLab.com
December 10, 2024

Thanks for your comment. We include information about microplastics in bottled water in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/is-bottled-water-better-than-tap-water/bottled-water-vs-tap-water/#microplastics

Katherine21136
November 20, 2024

How about reverse osmosis water?

ConsumerLab.com
December 11, 2024

Thank you for your question. For information about the potential pros and cons of reverse osmosis water filtration, please our article about PFAS, which includes a section about filters for removing PFAS from water: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/toxic-pfas-chemicals-in-dental-floss/pfas-dental-floss/#which-filters-work-better

Dennis21134
November 20, 2024

Where can I go to find testing information and results from my local water supplier?

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

The EPA requires that community water systems deliver an annual drinking water quality report (called the Consumer Confidence Report) to their customers. The report is typically sent with the water bill in July, but you can request a copy of the report from your local water supplier at any time. You can get additional information about the Consumer Confidence Report here: https://www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers

Susan21129
November 19, 2024

Just forwarded this to my grandkids. I have a fridge full of bottled (glass and aluminum) filtered water and V8 juice.

James21127
November 19, 2024

Ever since my first tour of duty in Leningrad in 1985, where the threat of giardiasis was constant, I have used bottled water. My preferred brand is Evian. Despite contentions to the contrary, I think it tastes far better than all other brands of bottled water (Fiji is close). It is pricey but worth it. In the US, tap water is usually fine for cooking purposes, and the taste can be radically improved through an all-house filter like OneSource, but I believe that Evian is still better.

Steve2003
November 19, 2024

When your tap water tastes like chlorinated mold, you can tell the difference! We get "bottled" water 5 gals at a time from a local supplier, 5gal/$1.00.

Cynthia21121
November 19, 2024

Thank you for this detailed information. I am strictly a bottled water drinker and this helps me to make smarter choices.

Juliette21116
November 19, 2024

I have gastroesophageal reflux disease, and gastroparesis. I have found that water with a high pH, above eight, helps relieve my symptoms. I use a pitcher with a filter that creates water with pH 8.5 to 9 (Hskyhan). When I am away from home and run out of my water in my reusable bottle, I drink bottled water with a high pH like Essentia. I’d be interested in Consumer Lab’s comments. Thank you.

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

Thanks for sharing your experience! As noted in our article about supplements and foods for reducing acid reflux, alkaline water has shown some evidence of benefit, although the results are preliminary: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/which-supplements-worsen-acid-reflux/heartburn-acid-reflux-gerd/#alkaline-water

Christian21115
November 19, 2024

Is the ph level of a seven for Poland spring to high a number with regular consumption?

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

Water that has a pH of 7 would be considered neutral and is within the recommended pH range for drinking water (6.5 to 8.5).

Don21114
November 19, 2024

I would imagine that tap water varies by location. Pharmaceutical products, chlorinated byproducts, fluoride levels may vary city to city and even within large cities..

ConsumerLab.com
December 17, 2024

Thank you for your feedback. The article has been updated to clarify that in areas with known tap water issues, such as lead contamination, bottled water is the recommended alternative.

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