Drinking Water

Recently, there are a lots of news, reports, and articles discussing the water quality between tap water and bottled water. Both are drinking water for our daily life. Which water is better for you? That depends on your own preference and perspectives.

The main differences between the tap water and the bottled water is in the department of the government which they are regulated under. Tap water sources are from all surface water such as lake, river, well, etc. The treated surface water is distributed to each household from local public municipal water treatment facilities. Therefore, the tap water qualities are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and each state’s EPA. These governmental agencies set the limits on certain contaminants in the water provided by the public water supply system to ensure that it is safe for the public to drink. The municipal water supply treatment facilities are required to monitor all these contaminants for compliance. Each year, an official water quality report will be issued to each consumer in a city that have residents more than 10,000. We receive a report from our city every year. The report always indicated that all contaminants that regulated by the EPA in our tap water are far below the EPA set limits and with no violations on compliance.

As an analytical chemist working in a company that involves in various water treatments in many different industries including municipal water treatment, I know that the detectable limit of any substance is only as good as to the most recent available analytical technologies. We are not able to measure contaminants levels that were less than the lowest detectable limits accurately. That does not mean that these contaminants is absent in the water. They could be still be present in the water but too low for detection by current standard analytical protocols that set by EPA. Recently, using more sensitive analytical techniques and instrumentation, trace levels of endocrine disruptors and common drugs were detectable in some municipal drinking water. But EPA is not regulating these contaminants yet because most of these contaminants are at trace levels. In addition, these trace level contaminants are hard to treat and remove form the drinking water. Their present in the tap water may or may not have any health effects. Another important point one should consider on tap water is the water distribution system. Just because the water is safe to drink at the treatment facility that were tested, it doesn’t mean water is safe everywhere after distribution. For example, distribution and building pipe vary from place to place. Some other contaminants could be leaching into the clean treated water during transport to our tap. It does not mean the tap water is unsafe, but there is a possibility of contamination. The water may not be as clean and pure as it is at the point of testing.

On the other hand, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates and establish the limits for contaminants in bottled drinking water to protect the public health. However, the bottled water manufacturers do not have to label the information on the bottle or report the results of any water quality test results to the FDA and the consumer. Therefore, we do not know exactly what water quality the bottled drinking water are. Perhaps, its quality is just like bottled soft drinks. In addition, the source of the water use for bottling could be just the tap water. Since the bottled water business is very competitive, we know that some bottled water manufactures have additional treatment such as reversed osmosis, to further purify the water prior to bottling. Then some also added back the key minerals for health and good taste. Different bottled water tasted differently due to variation in their water source, treatment, and bottling process. Personally, I prefer bottled water for its taste . I have been drinking bottled water from couple brands for more than 10 years. Occasionally, I also drank boiled tap water. I can definitely taste the differences between bottled water and tap water. That could be due to our tap water contains high levels of hardness. Although I understand that the materials that used to make the bottle could potentially leaching out at trace level into the bottled water. We do not know its level and the long term effect on our health. Because bottled water is taste better and more convenient, I prefer to drink bottled water. I could also use it for substitution of soft drinks to eliminate my sugar intake. Drinking bottled water instead of soft drinks could make us more healthy. Although the quality of the bottled water is less regulated, I think it is easier to control. Once it is bottled, it is just like any soft drinks and foods, good until its expiration date.

Whether it is tap water or bottled water, drink whatever you prefer and drink a lot. Water is good for your health.