Bottled Water Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

Bottled water consumption in the United States is continuing to grow annually, and it is now the second most popular commercial beverage choice of consumers according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation (1). And no wonder-it is conveniently packaged, portable, refreshing, and perceived by many consumers to be safer than tap water. Some choose bottled water simply because they feel its taste profile is superior to that of municipally treated tap water, others because of concerns regarding potability. This article examines the basic differences between tap water and bottled water, the safety of reusing plastic water bottles, and the safety of popular refillable sports bottles.