How Safe Is Bottled Water?

Water is essential for life and unfortunately there is beginning to be a serious shortage of clean water that is safe to drink. Our oceans and rivers are becoming polluted and due to overpopulation of the world, our water sources are quickly running dry.  In many areas of the world it is no longer safe to drink tap water but how safe is bottled water?

There are a number of concerns when it comes to the safety of bottled water. There are health concerns involved due to chemicals, added minerals and impurities that may cause cancer and other side effects.  Many people are quick to assume that bottled water is a safe source of “pure” water and assume that it is better than their tap water which is usually not the case. Bottled water is packaged and marketed to fool you into thinking that it is clean, pure, refreshing and safe when in fact no one questions the source of the water itself.  Not only does drinking bottled water harm the environment by creating tons of unnecessary plastic waste, but it may actually be causing many more diseases and illnesses than we are even aware of. One investigation of 188 brands of popular bottled waters found that only 2 of them disclosed the exact source of the water, how the water is purified and which chemical pollutants may be in every bottle.  How many times have you bought bottled water assuming that it was a safe source? Almost everyone drinks bottled water on occasion without thinking about their health or the environment but it is time to start doing so. 

Ironically, though tap water has a bad rap, under laws in most countries it is required to be inspected on a yearly basis in order to make sure it meets minimum safety standards. Unfortunately, bottled water isnt subjected to these kind of rules and regulations. Next time you reach for a bottled water think again or at the very least take a good look at the information provided on the label. A safer option for yourself and a better one for the environment is to carry a stainless steel bottle with water that has been filtered from your tap.