empty water bottle

Pros and Cons of Tap Water vs. Bottled Water

Bottled water consumption in North America and around the globe poses an ongoing health, safety, and environmental issue. Landfills and oceans are constantly being bombarded with large influxes of incoming water bottles, many of which take hundreds of years to decompose and can have a significantly negative impact on marine and wildlife. A growing emphasis on environmentalism and health concerns has deterred many people from consuming bottled water, opting for tap water instead.

What is the difference between tap water and bottled water? Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of tap water vs. bottled water, so that you can make a more informed decision about which one is the better choice for you, your family, and Mother Earth.

Pros and Cons of Tap Water

Safety

Some people are hesitant to rely solely on drinking tap water due to potential health and safety concerns, especially in certain areas where water supply contamination is a common occurrence. For instance, many indigenous communities across Canada don’t have access to clean drinking water and it’s recommended that residents avoid drinking water directly from the taps. Urban areas, on the other hand, are more likely to have clean drinking water running through their taps.

Taste of the Water

Tap water can sometimes taste a little off compared to bottled water due to chlorination or a high mineral content, but that doesn’t always mean that there’s something wrong with it. Attaching a filter to your faucet can help improve the taste of tap water.

Convenient and Cost-Effective

Depending on your water consumption and access, tap water is usually a very convenient and cost-effective option because it can be used virtually anywhere where there is running water in your home by simply turning on a tap and you only pay for whatever amount you use every month.

Lower Environmental Impact

Tap water eliminates the need for disposable packaging since people are likely to use reusable containers such as cups or bottles to drink water. Even when handwashing and dishwashing is taken into consideration, tap water still has a significantly lower environmental impact than bottled water.

Pros and Cons of Bottled Water

Contains Pieces of Micro-Plastics

Consider the question: Is tap water cleaner than bottled water? Every time you drink water from a plastic bottle, you’re consuming trace amounts of micro-plastics, which can pose potentially serious health issues. Buildup of micro-plastics in your body can cause blockages in your digestive tract. Contamination can also occur during the bottling process.

Variations in Taste

A number of variances can impact the appearance, smell, and taste of bottled water including its original source, processing facility standards, the bottling process, the type of bottle materials used, etc.

Larger Environmental Impact

Bottled water has a significant environmental impact. Research shows that it can take up to at least 450 years for plastic bottles to fully decompose. In that time, they can come into contact with and harm numerous animal habitats and species.

The battle between filtered tap water vs. bottled water has been a longstanding one with many people reluctant to give up their old ways. But education about the immense impact of bottled water on the environment is one of the key driving forces that’s ushering in a new era of water consumption. Georgian Water & Air is committed to continue on that trajectory by offering consumers across Toronto and the GTA access to clean, safe, and fresh tasting tap water at all times. Contact us to learn more.