Is bottled water safer than filtered tap water?

Many people believe bottled water is safe, but in fact, it often comes from municipal sources. I tested bottled and filtered tap water and found them to be roughly equal in contaminants. Plastic bottles introduce microplastics to the body. Home filtration gives a more stable control over the quality of purification.

Filtered drinking water provides superior tailoring for specific threats. After learning that lead was running in my pipes, I had a reverse osmosis system installed to target heavy metals. Cosco bottled water provides no such tailoring. You can control the protection by changing the filters to achieve uniform protection from local contaminants.

Bottled water is not a sustainable practice due to its environmental implications. Plastic used in bottled water is made from oil resources. Shipping bottled water emits greenhouse gases. My city's recycling program does not accept most colored bottles. Home filtration reduces the need to generate a waste stream and utilizes current infrastructure.

According to cost analysis, filtration saves money overall. Bottled water costs about $1,400 per year for a family of four. My under-sink reverse osmosis system paid for itself in eight months. The cost of the filters is less than the monthly expenditure for bottled water for equivalent quantities.

Taste distinctions typically favor filtered water. The removal of chlorine makes tap water more palatable to drink. The retention of minerals affords it a better mouthfeel than distilled bottled waters. My guests, when treated to blind tastings, have consistently preferred filtered tap water to the bottled premium brands.

Emergencies expose the weaknesses of bottled water; moderate supply chain disasters in the news quickly empty store shelves. Filtration systems continue to operate even when supply chains are disrupted. I have both, but primarily rely on filtration for daily use and security.

Read the full article: How to Filter Water: Essential Methods Explained