Tap Water Versus
Bottled Water? Discover the third option
The conscious consumer is concerned with much in life, but
they're especially sensitive when it comes to two things: what their money is
spent on and what is put into their bodies.
Water falls into both categories and has become a focal
point of the conscious consumerist movement over the past decade.
With increased awareness of depleting global freshwater
supplies, and stories emerging of big businesses buying up the remaining
reserves, something so vital to the masses is seemingly becoming increasingly
controlled by the few.
Businesses have long since commodified H20, capitalising on
consumer suspicion over mains water quality, and turning bottled water into a
$100bn a year global industry.
As water moves ever further into mainstream consumer
consciousness, people are increasingly split into two camps: those who drink
tap water and those who drink bottled.
So, is
bottled water better than tap water? Or is there a third alternative
that gives you even more benefits? We investigate in this article.
Pros and cons of tap water
The water from our taps is safe to drink
Mains water in the UK undergoes a stringent purification
process, and must adhere to strict health and safety standards. Which is why
the water from our taps is safe to drink, which is more than can be said for
the 750 million people who don’t have access to clean drinking water. That’s
priority number one, and we’ve got it covered.
Tap water doesn’t always taste right
If you think your tap water tastes odd or smells funny, then
rest assured that you’re not going mad.
A common reason given by bottled water drinkers for why they
prefer their option is because their tap water just doesn't taste right and
isn't refreshing.
Your tap water has been treated
Our tap water comes to us via our local water treatment works
where ground or surface water is disinfected with chlorine to remove
bacteria.
This treated water is then sent through our mains system -
miles and miles of pipes running from the treatment works to the pipes in your
building.
Some of those pipes may be a bit old and rusty (just
saying). Here's a bit more about mains water treatment and our own water
purification process.
Chemicals and other residues can end up in our tap water
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), an independent
government body set up to regulate public water supplies, states that the odd
taste is likely to be due to the small amounts of residual disinfectant used to
treat the water, as well as other foreign bodies that have made their way into
the water supply.
The chemical most widely used is chlorine, the same chemical
used in antifreeze, pesticides and swimming pools. The level of chlorine in our
water poses little threat to our health, but it can be responsible for the
bitter taste.
Tap water can also have a slightly musty taste depending on your plumbing
Water can pick up traces of substances from the pipes
and water fittings or appliances and this situation is the most common cause of
unusual or strange tastes.
For example:
●Metallic, or bitter tastes from copper, iron or
galvanised pipes.
●Plastic tastes from plastic pipes, kettles, tap
inserts or anti-splash devices.
●Rubbery or earthy tastes from tap washers.
●TCP/disinfectant type taste from reaction of
chlorine with chemicals in rubber hoses, kettles or tap washers.
●Musty or earthy tastes from stagnant or warm
water in little used sections of plumbing.
●Salty or chemical tastes due to incorrectly
functioning or installed softeners or treatment devices and filters.
If you’re unsure about how your residence is plumbed, and
concerned with the taste of your water, the DWI recommend contacting a plumber
and scheduling an inspection. Find out more about hard water in your area and how it can affect
you.
The pros and cons of bottled water
Bottled water should be
natural
According to the National Hydration Council, most bottled water
here in the UK is from natural sources.
Bottled water should receive no treatment at all
Spring water and natural mineral water has to be bottled at
its specific, protected and natural underground source and be safe to drink
without needing any treatment at all.
Bottled water has a stable composition
Bottled 'natural mineral water' (it has to say 'natural',
naturally) also has to have a stable and characteristic mineral composition.
Bottled water comes in, well... bottles
Most bottled water comes in lightweight plastic bottles
specifically designed to be recycled once emptied - not to re-use again and
again.
As the National Hydration Council says, the plastic used for
most food and drink is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and must comply with
all European and national legal requirements so should be completely safe and
not contaminate the water.
These squidgy plastic bottles are 100% recyclable - but can
you honestly say that every single plastic bottle you're done with always goes
in the recycling bin?
Time consuming and expensive? Tick both boxes.
Objecting to the taste or smell of tap water will either
seem completely normal to you or downright nonsense, depending on your own
experience.
The fact is that, when it comes to water, the conscious
consumer is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
On the one hand, the heightened awareness concerning the
quality of our nourishment makes us wary of drinking chemically treated water.
On the other hand, drinking bottled water is easy to object
to. The ecological impact of billions of tonnes of plastic bottles is enough to
make any ethical consumer squirm.
Re-using plastic bottles can be harmful
Re-using these plastic bottles could lead to your water
getting contaminated with bacteria, as The Huffington Post recently wrote
about.
It's fine to wash and re-use the type of hard plastic or
stainless steel bottles designed for taking running or cycling - as it is to
re-use glass bottles, simply because they shouldn't break down and be subject
to the type of wear and tear that encourages bacteria growth.
Tap water versus
bottled water: which is better?
Bottled water drinkers cite superior taste and quality as
their primary motivators, whilst tap drinkers don’t understand why anyone would
actually pay for something that comes out of their tap. Tap water is more
convenient, but not always as safe as bottled water.
So, is
bottled water better than tap water?
Thankfully, there’s a
third option.
Here at Virgin Pure, we believe that our system puts you in
full control of both your ethical consumer habits, and your body’s nourishment.
Life brings compromise from all angles, but your health and your values are a
compromise-free-zone.
Is filtered tap
water better than bottled?
Here is why filtering watering can be a better option for
you than bottled water. Our water filtration system helps you to
stay uncompromisingly hydrated, healthy and ethical. No musty smells. No bitter
taste. Greatly reduced plastic waste.
As the Virgin Pure System plugs straight into
your existing plumbing, and turns your mains water into triple-filtered H2O,
like some kind of hydro-alchemy.
For around 76p a day, less than a single bottle of water,
Virgin Pure gives you unlimited access to the healthiest and tastiest kind of
H20. Chilled and hot.
Pure water is, quite literally, available on tap.
Next, find out all about the disadvantages of recycling plastic – one more
reason to give up plastic bottles once and for all and think about bringing a
convenient water filter into your life.
