What Kind of Water Is Bottled? 

When you drink bottled water, you are not only doing yourself a great favor but also helping the environment. Bottled water is the ideal drinking option when there is a shortage of clean, safe tap water due to local disasters or contaminated municipal supply sources. 

(Looking for “countertop water filtration“? Contact us Today!)

There are many different types of bottled water, and they have all been regulated to ensure their safety. Some brands use distillation to purify their water, while others add ozone or other chemical additives to alter its pH and make it less acidic than source water. 

Some bottled waters are carbonated, and this can also affect their pH levels. However, there are still some bottles of bottled water that do not contain any carbonation at all. 

For example, this Quebec-based brand has natural spring water that naturally filters and then is infused with carbonation for a unique taste experience. The downside to this method is that it makes the bottled water lower in pH than distilled or tap water, which are typically higher. 

This is why the EPA recommends only drinking bottled water that has been purified using reverse osmosis or deionization. These processes remove the majority of chlorine, sodium, potassium and other chemicals. 

You should also look for a label that clearly states where the water was sourced and what process was used to clean it. This information will help you to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s safe to consume. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict standards for bottled water, and it must be from a reputable source to be called “bottled water.” It is categorized according to the geological source and treatment process that was used. 

While it is not 100% environmentally friendly, municipally-supplied tap water is generally cleaner than bottled water, because it is not exposed to the same environmental factors that can affect bottled water. In addition to removing contaminants from the water, municipal tap water must be treated with processes such as coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. These processes require energy inputs and the chemicals, such as aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, ferrous sulfate and calcium carbonate, can have detrimental impacts on the environment. 

In the United States, bottled water is generally more expensive than municipally-supplied tap water. The cost is mainly because of the labor, transportation, and packaging involved in producing and shipping bottled water. 

There are a few scenarios where bottled water is always healthier than tap water, such as in the event of a natural disaster when contaminated municipal source water is unavailable or when treatment plants are not functioning. In these circumstances, bottled water is the only option for many people who do not have access to safe and reliable drinking water. 

Despite all the concerns about its health effects and potential hazards, bottled water is still a vital resource for many people across the world who do not have access to safe, clean water. It is an essential element of the global water system and is necessary for achieving United Nations sustainable development goals 6.1, which includes universal access to safe and affordable drinking water.