While many people still choose to drink bottled water over tap water, tap water can actually provide many valuable benefits that bottled water cannot. From a reduced impact on the environment to increased sustainability and beyond, tap water provides plenty of benefits.
In the newest blog from Indiana American Water, we’ll discuss some of the advantages associated with drinking tap water instead of bottled water.
Environmental Impact
It’s no secret that bottled water has a negative impact on the environment. From bottling and shipping the water to keeping it cool in your refrigerator, bottled water affects the environment in multiple ways.
Bottled water requires significantly more energy to produce and creates a notable amount of plastic waste. Most plastic disposable bottles are never recycled. According to the Container Recycling Institute, 85% of plastic water bottles end up in the trash even though they are made of recyclable materials. By choosing to drink tap water instead of water in plastic bottles, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Health and Safety
While bottled water is typically viewed as safer than tap water, that’s actually incorrect. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must meet stringent quality requirements. Water treatment plants that provide tap water must be tested multiple times per day, and every water provider in the country is required to provide consumers with detailed water quality reports to assure its compliance with EPA standards.
If any safety concerns with your city’s water supply ever arise after a water quality test, your city will immediately notify you to ensure that you stay safe from any contaminants.
Greater Sustainability
Your city’s tap water supply is sustainable. Bottled water, on the other hand, puts unnecessary pressure on other areas of the world that have limited water supplies. Bottled water is commonly sourced from areas that are facing water shortages, leaving those areas without easy access to their own water supply.
More Affordable
While bottled water can be more convenient, you’ll pay significantly more for that convenience. When you factor in all of the labor associated with bottling, shipping, and selling bottled water, the costs of bottled water skyrocket. Bottled water, on average, is significantly more expensive than tap water, which costs only about a penny a gallon in most communities.
By using a reusable water bottle, you can expect to see significant savings over drinking bottled water.
Indiana American Water is Dedicated to Providing Safe and High-Quality Water
Indiana American Water knows how important it is that each and every home has access to clean, safe drinking water. We regularly test water quality to ensure that your home’s water supply is as safe as possible. For more information about how we’re working to improve water quality throughout Indiana, get in touch with us today!