Energy for the Environment

Did you know that bottled water costs almost three thousand times the cost of tap water? Why do people pay that much more for bottled water? Probably because they believe it is a safer option. But is that really true? To begin, bottled water falls under the regulation of FDA when it crosses state lines. Meanwhile, tap water is regulated under the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The differences in regulations between these organizations is larger than one might think. Bottled water companies are not required to report violated water standards to the FDA- or the general public- at all. Meanwhile, tap water standards violations are required to be reported to both the public and to the EPA within 24 hours. Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the tap water running through your appliances is not in accordance with EPA standards. Next, bacterial contamination is prevalent in today’s world, as many know. Consequently, water utilities providing water for over 100,000 people must be tested for bacterial contaminants every few hours. However, bottled water companies need only test for contaminants once a week. And finally, tap water utilities are inspected more often and are required to hold on the testing records for much longer than bottled water companies (5 to 10 years compared to 2 to 3). Therefore, the FDA might not become aware of certain contaminants in the water if the testing records were thrown out before they could inspect the company. Overall, according to Charles Fishman in his book “The Big Thirst”, “Bottled water isn’t regulated with anything like the scrutiny and care that tap water is” (Fishman 299). So if tap water is at least as safe as or safer than bottled water, why do we continue to pay more for a plastic cup filled with liquid we could get at the sink? Well, I believe that that plastic cup symbolizes security and indulgence. Even though the idea that safe water can only be provided through bottles is inaccurate, people continue to flock to stores and buy large packs of plastic jugs, resting assured that they are drinking the safest water in America. To continue, one irrevocable fact is that tap water is not the same as bottled water, which is why we spend almost as much money on bottled water as we do on our entire water infrastructure (the bottled water industry- as of 2009- was $21 billion, and sustaining our entire water system costs $29 billion). With all these points in mind, there is still the argument that while tap water is tested at the facility, it could be contaminated from the pipes that come to your house. Certainly, this is an issue, but corrosion from the pipes is mainly an issue for homes built in the late 1800s, and would also turn your water red, brown, or orange. If you don’t see your water turning this color, you are almost definitely in the clear! Overall, with the price- and the safety- of both tap water and bottled water in mind, which one will you choose in the future? 

Sources:

The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman