In my profession I talk a lot and, as a result, I drink a lot of water to keep hydrated. I have an 800ml stainless steel water bottle that’s dinged and nicked from lots of use and sports a purple sticker with a unicorn on it that says “Chiropractic is Magic”—a gift from my wife’s workplace. I fill up my water bottle, on average, about three times a day from the tap, a gesture that I didn’t used to think very much of until I started getting comments from my coworkers.
It seems that tap water has got a bad rap.
Frequently, when filling up my water bottle I’ll hear things like, “Ah, slumming it today, are you?” Slumming it? By drinking water out of the tap? And it isn’t because the water isn’t cold because I always add ice from the freezer. It’s the quality that I’m receiving heck for. The quality of tap water.
It’s clear that the bottled water industry—a billion dollar industry—has pulled one over on us, and it’s a shame because there’s nothing wrong with water from the tap.
I don’t know where the impression arose that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water but it simply isn’t true. The fact that it seems to be widespread enough that educated, intelligent people would believe it is of concern.
After doing digging I found that Health Canada holds water, in the bottle and out of the tap, to relatively the same standards but the situation in the United States, and other countries around the world is very different. In fact, in these places bottled water can be held to a lesser standard then tap water. So drinking tap water can be better for you. What’s more, some argue that by drinking local water you’re building up immunities to local diseases. I don’t know if that argue holds any water scientifically but there certainly is no data, anywhere, to show that water imported from France is any better than the stuff coming out of your kitchen facet.
But it’s the importing that’s the problem, isn’t it? Consider the manufacturing costs, the wastefulness, the unnecessary shipping and transportation when perfectly good water comes right out of the tap. David Suzuki, in an interview for the CBC called our bottle water consumption “absolutely disgusting” highlighting the fact that we pay more for water in a bottle than we do for gasoline.
OK, so this is my tap water rant. I’m constantly surprised though by people who themselves are surprised that I’m drinking unfiltered water out of the tap. Considering that many of the brands of bottle water out there are, themselves, just tap water in a fancy, wasteful bottle I think it’s time for a reality check.
Yes Corch, YES!
I’ve been in a lot of discussions this week about bottled water. Check out “The Story of Bottled Water” – it’s the “Story of Stuff” for the bottled water tragedy.
Don’t let others think you’re crazy for drinking tap water – it is regulated, and bottled water is not (also, it is usually taken from a municipal “tap” water source, then they add stuff to it, plus ship it thousands of unnecessary kms for no reason). Start shaming those who drink bottled water.
RP
I always held the same opinions, having worked in the infrastructure industry and seeing the standards required for tapwater. Particularly after the e-coli incident in Walkerton, ON a few years ago – the requirements for water testing are quite strict in Ontario.
Having since moved to the Middle East, topics like this make me feel like a bit of a hypocrite. I am fairly confident that the tap water is safe where I live, since it’s mostly desalinated anyways, but I still find myself drinking bottled water instead of tap water. I just don’t have the same confidence in the infrastructure over here as I had back home. Anyways, it’s given me a new perspective on the debate.
Another “ingredient” missed by drinking bottled water is fluouride. If people ONLY drink bottled water, chances are, as mentioned in the blog, the water will come from overseas or from a community that does not believe in or participate in water fluoridation. Preventing tooth decay is pretty important. Just another suggestion for those who think bottled water is the better way!
if you can find it, the show/episode “Penn & Teller; Bullshit! – (1-07) – Feng Shui & Bottled Water” will backup everything said here.
I’d also like to mention that bottled water has expiration dates, what are they doing that is making the water expire?
Yes Keith, I too fill up from the tap at schools. Although no one has commented on it yet (I’m just a random supply teacher after all), I do wonder what people are thinking, especially in schools where there is a big expensive water cooler standing near by. It is infuriating that more people don’t know about how ridiculous bottled water is, but there are small things that are starting to highlight this – no bottled water for sale in public buildings, “no bottled water day”s at schools, and other such small initiatives…I think the tide will turn eventually.