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As you are having a nice dinner with your old friend, reminiscing about the glory days, something tickles the back of your throat. After noticing your discomfort, your friend excuses himself to get some water for you, and you hope that he brings back bottled water rather than a glass of water from the tap. But is one healthier than the other?
Bottled water comes with its own “glass” and is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Also, there is no concern about old pipes (think Flint, Michigan), sewage leaks, pesticide runoff, and other factors. Tap water is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, avoids adding plastic to the environment, and is less costly.
The benefits of cautiously and thoughtfully defaulting to tap water are worthy of consideration. Bottled or tap can be useful depending on the context, but it’s difficult to argue that the decision can affect your health.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327395#pros-and-cons-of-bottled-water
https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2022/06/is-bottled-water-healthier-than-tap-water