| Many people wonder whether bottled water is | | | | consumers can examine their public water utility's |
| healthier than tap water. Most people assume it is, | | | | H2O test results each year. This provides a level of |
| perhaps after watching misleading commercials or | | | | transparency that allows consumers to make their |
| viewing labels that depict pristine H2O flowing | | | | own decisions regarding whether or not it's healthier |
| outdoors. The truth is bottled H2O isn't necessarily | | | | to drink. Bottled water suppliers are not required to |
| healthier than tap. In fact, about a quarter of bottled | | | | disclose their test results. As such, consumers often |
| waters are really just tap H2O in disguise. According | | | | have no idea what they're getting. |
| to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), | | | | According to the Environmental Working Group, |
| sometimes this glorified municipal H2O receives | | | | water that is sold in bottles often contains |
| additional treatment prior to bottling, but sometimes | | | | contaminants that belie its pure, healthier image. In |
| it does not. | | | | fact, laboratory testing revealed that nearly a dozen |
| Often, proponents of bottled H2O cite the fact that | | | | popular brands were chock full of contaminants. |
| the FDA regulates the industry, giving that as a | | | | Together, these brands contained more than 35 |
| reason to believe it is healthier. It's true that the FDA | | | | chemical contaminants. Nearly half of these brands |
| does provide regulation, but whether you will benefit | | | | were also contaminated with bacteria. |
| from it depends on where the H2O you buy comes | | | | Bottled water is much more expensive than tap |
| from. The FDA only gets involved with regulating | | | | water. On average, a gallon of bottled H2O may cost |
| bottled water that is shipped and sold across state | | | | $1.00 to $1.50, with fancy brands carrying higher price |
| lines. If you live in New Jersey, for example, and you | | | | tags. Tap water often costs less than a penny per |
| buy bottled water that was shipped in from | | | | gallon. If H2O in a bottle isn't healthier than tap, why |
| California, the FDA was involved. If your H2O was | | | | spend so much more to buy it? Sure, $1.00 may not |
| packaged and sold in New Jersey, however, you're | | | | seem like a lot of money, but over the course of a |
| out of luck. Since it was packaged and sold in the | | | | year, it can really add up. For many, a better solution |
| same state, it can escape FDA regulation. | | | | is to buy a good filter and use it to make tap water |
| One of the major problems with bottles of H2O is | | | | safer. This gives the consumer more control over its |
| the lack of disclosure. In the United States, municipal | | | | safety and allows him to keep more of his |
| water suppliers are required to disclose information | | | | hard-earned money in his own pocket. |
| about contaminants in the H2O supply. In fact, | | | | |