Study Shows Nearly 64% of Bottled Water in America is Just Tap Water: Here’s the Brands

Step 2: Filtration and Purification (Varies by brand)

Reverse Osmosis (RO): Some brands, like Aquafina and Dasani, use reverse osmosis, a process that removes impurities, minerals, and contaminants.
Distillation: A method used by brands like Smartwater, where tap water is boiled, and the steam is collected and condensed to remove impurities.
UV Treatment: Some brands use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria or other microorganisms in the water.
Ozonation: This process disinfects water by infusing it with ozone gas, an alternative to chlorine.

Step 3: Adding Minerals and Electrolytes (Optional)

Some brands enhance their water by adding back minerals and electrolytes to improve taste or market it as “enhanced” hydration.
Dasani, for example, adds magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt.

Step 4: Bottling and Packaging

The purified or processed tap water is then bottled, sealed, labeled, and distributed.
Some companies use recycled plastic, while others rely on traditional PET bottles, which contribute to environmental concerns.

Why This Matters: The Cost of Bottled Tap Water

Many consumers assume that bottled water is significantly different from tap water. However, the markup on bottled water is enormous:

A 16.9-ounce bottle of Dasani costs around $1.50 at convenience stores.
The same amount of tap water costs less than a penny in most U.S. cities.

For a product that’s often indistinguishable from what comes out of a home faucet, this price difference is staggering.

Environmental and Ethical Concerns

Beyond the cost, the bottled water industry raises several environmental and ethical issues:

Plastic waste: The U.S. alone discards over 60 million plastic water bottles daily, contributing to pollution.
Energy consumption: The process of filtering, bottling, and transporting water requires massive amounts of energy.
Corporate water control: Some companies deplete local water supplies, leading to water shortages in certain areas.

Alternatives: How to Get Clean Water Without Bottled Brands

Instead of buying bottled tap water, consider these alternatives:

Use a Home Water Filter – Invest in a high-quality Brita, PUR, or Berkey filter for tap water purification.
Opt for a Reusable Bottle – Stainless steel or BPA-free bottles are eco-friendly and save money in the long run.
Check Your City’s Water Quality Report – Many U.S. cities have safe, high-quality tap water that rivals bottled brands.

Final Thoughts: Should You Keep Buying Bottled Water?

While bottled water can be convenient, the reality is that many brands sell filtered tap water at an extreme markup. Unless you’re in an area with poor tap water quality, using a home filter and reusable bottle can save money and reduce plastic waste.

If you do buy bottled water, check the label for transparency about the source and purification process. With this knowledge, you can make informed choices about your drinking water and avoid paying premium prices for something that might already be available straight from your faucet.

Would you still buy bottled water knowing this? Let us know your thoughts!