Is Bottled Water Healthier Than Tap Water?
Nearly two-thirds of Earth’s surface is made up of water—and we need it for our very survival—yet less than 1% of it is actually drinkable. It’s a critical but scarce resource. So what’s the best way to get it? It can depend on where you live.
Some countries have safer water than others. If you’re in the United States and have access to running water, it’s overall very safe to drink, notes Brian Labus, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health. In fact, the United States ranks in the top 13% of countries with the safest drinking water. This is in stark contrast to the widely held belief—held by more than half of Americans—that tap water isn’t safe.
But tap water isn’t your only option. In the past few decades, bottled water has skyrocketed in popularity. Surveys show that a whopping 88% of Americans drink bottled water, and some sources suggest that bottled water is more popular than tap water in certain populations. Not only is bottled water convenient for taking on-the-go, it gives some people peace of mind that it’s clean and safe to drink.
Excerpted from Real Simple
