Study Shows Nearly 64% of Bottled Water in America is Just Tap Water: Here’s the Brands
A recent study has revealed a startling truth about bottled water in the United States: nearly 64% of it is simply repurposed tap water. While bottled water is often marketed as a pure, pristine alternative to regular tap water, this study challenges that assumption, showing that many major bottled water brands are filling their bottles with water that comes straight from municipal sources. For consumers who thought they were paying for a premium product, this finding is bound to raise some eyebrows.
The study, conducted by an independent research group, analyzed dozens of bottled water brands and their sources. What they found was that a significant portion of popular bottled water labels rely on tap water from local cities, which is then filtered and treated before being bottled and sold. While the water is often subjected to additional filtration processes to meet quality standards, the fact that it originates from municipal sources may surprise many consumers who believe they’re getting water straight from pristine springs or glaciers.
Among the brands that were identified in the study are well-known names like Aquafina (PepsiCo), Dasani (Coca-Cola), and Nestlé Pure Life. These brands, which dominate the bottled water market, have been found to source their water from public utilities, making it indistinguishable from what’s coming out of your faucet at home. Of course, these brands do perform additional filtering and purification, which may enhance the taste or remove certain contaminants, but the fact remains that it’s essentially repurposed tap water.
While this information may be surprising, experts argue that there’s nothing inherently wrong with drinking bottled tap water, especially when it’s properly filtered and treated to meet safety standards. However, many consumers feel misled when they purchase bottled water, thinking they’re buying a premium, natural product. With bottled water prices often being significantly higher than tap water, some feel that they’ve been paying a premium for something that doesn’t offer much more than what’s available from their kitchen sink.
The study also raises important questions about the environmental impact of bottled water. Bottled water production generates significant plastic waste and contributes to pollution, especially since many of the bottles end up in landfills or the ocean. The findings have led some to reconsider the environmental cost of buying bottled water and question whether it’s worth it when they could simply fill a reusable bottle with tap water for a fraction of the cost.
In response to the study, some of the brands involved have defended their products, pointing out that the water is carefully filtered and purified to ensure safety and quality. Still, consumers may want to think twice before reaching for that bottle of water on the shelf. With the environmental and financial costs of bottled water in mind, many are opting to drink from the tap, use home filtration systems, or choose more sustainable alternatives like filtered water bottles.
