Which is safest to drink - tap water or bottled water?

Question

Which is safest to drink - tap water or bottled water?

Also, since most products need water in their manufacture how safe are some of these products, especially when they come from abroad considering that their local water may not be up to standard?

Answer 1

I live right outside Memphis which has the best tap water in the US and some of the best in the world, so here you're probably at least as good with tap water as bottled water (I THINK the tap water here comes from the aquifer...I should check up on that).  But I've heard it's dirty in many places.  I guess it depends on where you live.

Answer 2

Depends. Are you in London or Bangladesh?

Answer 3

Bottle I guess. God only knows what the man is putting in your tap water.

Answer 4

I personally think bottled water is a rip off and full of hidden harms such as salt and would only buy it if I was out on the road and desperate.Tap water has been treated and is perfectly fine to drink. I don't know how old you are but I think if tap water was a danger you would know about it by now! Save your money for more needy things....... :)

Answer 5

Tap water is the safest to drink. It's pure. Buying bottled water is just an unnecessary and stupid expense. Someone's getting rich on the public's gullibility.

Answer 6

LA tap water was voted the best in the nation, how I don't know and I definitely wouldn't risk it. As long as you're not drinking pompous water you're fine ;P

Answer 7

I vote for tap water for safety.

Of more concern is the cost in petroleum product to make those plastic containers and then ship or truck it to the market. We are shooting ourselves in the foot and some marketing executive is laughing all the way to HIS BANK !

Answer 8

From what I have read bottled water often does not have fluoride added to it, which is something recommended for children ages 7 to 16 to be getting it plays an important role in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention.  Go with tap water, chances are the bottled water you thought was coming from the springs real isn't.

http://www.gotwaterbottles.com/

Answer 9

Seriously, I really don't think it matters.  I'm not wasting hundreds more a month just to feel high and mighty with my bottle of water.  

Someone turn on the faucet!

Answer 10

Tap water and Bottled water are regulated by two different agencies. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. The EPA sets higher standards for water than the FDA does and therefore tap water is safer and of better quality.

Answer 11

are you saying the F.D.A. isn't doing their duty? The E.P.A. closed all the public facilities and drinking wells, and now chlorine is added to kill the germs, whoops except the Spirochete!

Answer 12

Tap water, god knows where the bottled water comes from it's imported. And usually spends ages in the bottle, on the shelf.

Answer 13

Please don't buy bottled water.  Components in the plastic used to make the bottles can never be broken down. (Even in recycling)  Buy a  water filtration system that you adhere directly to your tap.  Decent price, great water!

Cheers

Answer 14

From what I've heard tap water is just as safe to drink as bottled water.  In fact tap water is superior because the minerals haven't been removed - as they typically have been in bottled water.

A-HA!

Answer 15

I would say tapped unless you live in an urban area.

Answer 16

Tap water must meet certain standards and is tested regularly.  It's a known quantity safer than bottled, which might come from a tap or might come from God knows where.  

I prefer cheap (70 cents per gallon) bottled water.  I like to live on the edge.  And yes, I recycle the gallon jugs..

Answer 17

well a lot of bottled water is just glorified tap water...if u live in the city(or drink city water) definitly get bottled water...there is flouride in city water (if u hav 2 much...it can give u tumors, cancer...) the best bottled water i know of is roaring springs & deer park

Answer 18

I don't drink chemical cocktails, which is why I refuse to take tap water.

I absolutely do not even give that stuff to my dogs!

I go to a health spa every day and shower there and swim in the pool there because all the water comes directly from the hills and the pool water is treated with ozone instead of chlorine.

The only things tap water are fit for in my opinion, are to clean the floors, the car and the house, and to flush the toilet!

Answer 19

Drinking Tap Water is exactly as healthy as if you drink straigh from the toilet bowl after someone pooed in it without flushing.

Answer 20

Tap water..