Bottled water vs. tap water: Today, we are going to compare these two popular options.
We have over 25 years of experience in the home water services industry, and we'd love to share our expertise with you!
We will outline the pros and cons of bottled water vs. tap water to help you decide which is the best option. So let's jump in!
Bottled Water vs. Tap Water: Which is the better choice?
Bottled Water vs. Tap Water: The Great Debate
To help you decide, here are the main pros and cons of both bottled and tap water.
Bottled Water Pros
Great taste: One of the greatest selling features of bottled water vs. tap water is the taste. Depending on where you live and where your water comes from, you may not like the taste of your tap water. Bottled water, on the other hand, has a very pleasing and refreshing taste that most people enjoy.
Convenience: Bottled water is very convenient and easy to take with you, so you can remain hydrated all day long.
If you are concerned about the environmental impact of individual bottles though, you can also enjoy the convenience of using a water cooler with large re-fillable bottles.
Your water will be always refreshingly cool and ready for you to fill up your glass or re-usable water bottle to take along with you. A water cooler is also a great way to encourage your smaller children to drink more water as it is at an easier height for them to access than the kitchen tap.
Bottled water vs. tap water: Bottled water tastes great and is easy to take with you
Bottled Water Cons
Environmentally Unfriendly: Purchasing individual bottles of water is extremely bad for the environment. Even though plastic water bottles can be recycled, only about 70% of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles - the type that can be recycled - are recycled by Canadians according to the Canadian Beverage Association.
It also takes manufacturers up to 3 litres of water to make 1 litre of bottled water if you count the amount of water that's needed to make the plastic bottle to hold it.
If you love the taste of bottle water but want to be more environmentally conscious, you could start using more economical and refillable large bottles.
You can purchase BPA free reusable bottles from WaterSmart so you don't have to worry about harmful chemicals seeping into your water. WaterSmart also has a convenient bottle washer on site to ensure that your reusable bottles are completely clean before you refill them.
Contact the friendly staff at WaterSmart today to find out about our wide range of bottled water products that are cost-effective and include free delivery.
Bottled water vs. tap water: Large refillable bottles are a more economical and Eco-friendly option to individual water bottles
High Price: Purchasing individual bottles of drinking water is very expensive. Individual bottled water can cost anywhere from 8 cents per 500ml if purchased in bulk from a large store such as Walmart to over $2.50 if purchased from a vending machine. 90% of the cost of individual bottled water is the packaging, which includes the plastic manufactured to contain the water and the labeling created by the seller to brand it.
A much more inexpensive option is to purchase large, 18 litre refillable bottles of water. If you live in the Waterloo region, you can fill your own bottles with great tasting water for as little as 20 cents per litre. You can save even more money if you sign up for our prepaid water plan.
Bottled water vs. tap water: Bottled water costs more than tap water
Tap Water Pros
Price: Tap water is by far your least expensive option for drinking water. It costs only a fraction of a penny per litre.
However, if you really don't like the taste or the smell of your tap water, you may be prepared to pay a bit more so that you can enjoy the water that you are drinking and avoid drinking other beverages that have higher sugar and calorie content to stay hydrated.
Convenience: Tap water is extremely convenient as you simply need to turn on your tap and there it is. You don't have to go out and purchase it or worry about running out of it.
Bottled water vs. tap water: tap water is inexpensive and convenient
Tap Water Cons
Bad Taste: If you don't like the taste of your tap water, then using bottled water is your better solution for your drinking water. Depending on your municipality, your water might contain additives that give it unpleasant taste. These include:
Chlorine which is used to disinfect your water supply
Ozone used to disinfect the water
Copper caused by the corrosion of your copper plumbing
High levels of dissolved minerals in your water due to your water source coming from groundwater
Even though the above will make your tap water taste bad, they are normally safe for you to drink.
Unpleasant Smell: If you have tap water that has a strong smell to it, then you may not want to drink it. Here are some of the different smells that water can have and what causes them:
Sulphur or Rotten Egg Smell: this is due to having hydrogen sulfide in your water
Wet Dog Smell: this can be caused by metal plumbing, bacteria, treatment chemical or organic material in your water
Gasoline Smell: this can happen if an animal falls into an open water supply but it also can be caused by contamination from a nearby fuel source.
Bottled water vs. tap water: you may not want to drink your tap water if it smells or tastes bad
Bottle Water Vs. Tap Water: The Verdict
If you are looking for the most economical and convenient option for drinking water, then tap water is your winner.
However, if you don't like the taste or smell of your tap water and you don't want to have to drink other types of beverages, then purchasing large, re-fillable bottles of water is a great option. It is much more environmentally friendly and it is a fraction of the price of individual bottled water or other beverages.
How a Water Softener Will Affect Your Tap Water
If you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, you probably know how important it is to have a water softener installed in your home. There are mixed opinions regarding the taste of your tap water when you have a water softener.
Some people prefer the taste because the softener removes the taste of the minerals in the water that cause it to be hard.
On the other hand, some people don’t like the taste of their tap water with a water softener. If this is the case, you have a couple of choices.
You could choose to purchase large, economical re-fillable bottled water or you could have your softener just installed to soften your hot water. Either way, WaterSmart can help you with your preferred choice.
Bottled Water Vs. Tap Water: Choose WaterSmart for Your Bottled Water & More!
You can rely on WaterSmart not only for great bottled water services but for all of your home water needs. WaterSmart is a full-service plumbing company that can fix any type of plumbing problem you may have and at a price that you can afford.
Is your water too hard? A water softener can help you solve your hard water problem. The professionals at WaterSmart can also help you choose the most effective water softener for the level of hardness in your particular area.
Contact WaterSmart today for all of you home water services.
