what are the pros and cons of consuming bottled water

Pros and cons of bottled water

• Safety The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set the standards for bottled water. They require manufacturers to process and transport bottled water under sanitary conditions and to use processes that ensure the safety of the water. This means that, in general, bottled water is safe to drink. ...
• Taste and source Some people may prefer the taste of bottled water. ...
• Cost and convenience ...
• Environmental impact ...

Full Answer

What are some advantages of drinking bottled water?

What Are Some Advantages of Bottled Water?

• Convenience. Keeping your refrigerator stocked with bottled water is a quick and convenient way to fulfill your body's hydration needs.
• Track Your Intake. To keep the body properly hydrated, MedlinePlus recommends drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
• Taste- and Odor-Free. ...
• Variety. ...
• Emergency Preparation. ...

Is bottled water more harmful than good?

Bottled water does more harm than good. Most bottled water is simply purified water, and no better that water from a major city's purification system (like Chicago's). The increase in litter and the impact to the environment from the discarded plastic bottles is shameful.

Is bottled water good or bad?

There are many benefits of drinking bottled water, but these benefits do not outweigh the costs. Drinking bottled water can have many negative effects on human health, and can be very harmful to the environment. Over the past ten years, the bottled water market has tripled. Every year the market grows ten percent from the previous year.

Do benefits of bottled water outweigh the costs?

What are the cons of bottled water?

It is more expensive than tap water. The costs of purifying, bottling, advertising, transporting and storing bottled water can trickle down to the cost of the water itself. This means the product is significantly more expensive than tap water. Buying bottled water is even more expensive if you are doing it very often.

What are the pros of using bottled water?

THE BENEFITS OF BOTTLED WATERConvenient on-the-go hydration solution. Everyone needs to drink a certain amount of water every day to stay hydrated and healthy. ... Can easily be stored. Water is vital for survival. ... Great taste and added nutrients. ... Free of impurities.

What are the drawbacks or disadvantages of drinking bottled water?

The Water May Contain Chemicals The plastic used to make the bottles can contain hazardous chemicals. Many bottled water companies stopped using plastic with BPA, which can be hazardous to humans, but even those plastic bottles still sometimes contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

What's the healthiest water to drink?

spring waterAgain, the healthiest water to drink is water that's free of pathogens and contaminants, yet rich in key minerals. But, if there was one water option to pick, it's likely going to be spring water or clean artesian water—water that still contains healthy mineral content and is free of pathogens.

Is bottled water healthier than tap water?

Overall, it appears that tap water is a better option in most cases. It is convenient, free or inexpensive, and has much less of an environmental impact than bottled water. Tap water is also just as safe as bottled water, and most people will not be able to tell the difference in taste.

What are the major problems with bottled water?

This type of plastic contains BPA, which has been banned in countries around the world, including the European Union and China, due to its toxicity. BPA exposure is linked to multiple health effects including fertility issues, altered brain development, cancer, and heart complications.

Is drinking tap water good for you?

Water is the best healthy beverage choice. And tap water is safe, better for the environment, less expensive and offers health benefits such as fluoride that may be lacking in many bottled water products.

Do plastic water bottles cause health problems?

For many years, people have been circulating hoax emails claiming that drinking water from plastic bottles can cause cancer, especially if they have been left in cars, or frozen and reused. There is no good scientific evidence to support these claims.

What are the pros of plastic water bottles?

Plastic bottles are economical to make, safe to use and recyclable.Rugged and Safe. Unlike glass containers, plastic bottles are rugged and resilient; they don't shatter into sharp pieces when dropped, making products and packaging safe to handle. ... Shapes and Colors. ... Energy Savings. ... A Recyclable Material.

Why is bottled water important?

Sometimes, water from public water systems can be compromised after emergency situations or natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, floods, tornados, fires, or boil alerts). During those times, bottled water is a necessary and reliable alternative to deliver clean, safe drinking water.

Is bottled still water good for you?

Overall, both tap and bottled water are considered good ways to hydrate. However, tap water is generally a better option, as it's just as safe as bottled water but costs considerably less and has a much lower environmental impact.

Is water bottling a good thing?

Is bottled water safer than tap water? There is no reason to believe that bottled water is safer than tap water. Tap water and bottled water generally have the same quality standards.

Why is bottled water so convenient?

When you are out in the field or on holiday in a hot summer day, you can grab a bottle of water to quench your thirst from the nearest store.

Why is water important?

Our bodies need constant supply of water for of it to operate normally. One way to stay hydrated is to have quick access to readily available source of water.

What is flavored water?

Flavored water provides you with a chance to take water that best suits your taste buds. If you love mint or other fruit essences such as pineapple, orange, coconut or cucumber flavor, you can find it in bottled water. Bottled water offers you a variety of choices. See Related: Best Reusable K Cup Options to Consider.

What are plastic bottles made of?

Bottles are made of plastic. Plastic containers contain a chemical called BPA and many others. Research shows that these chemicals can seep into the water that is in the bottle, especially when exposed to heat or direct sunlight. The compounds can cause different deadly diseases including cancer.

What happens when a landfill burns up?

When the landfill is burnt up, it may cause air pollution which can ruin the ozone layer and cause global warming. It is thus vital to throw away the empty cans responsibly, reuse them or take them to a recycling company.

What happens if you throw away empty cans?

If the empty cans are disposed of in the trash cans, they may mix up with other wastes which are then transferred to the landfills.

Can you put bottled water in trash?

Even though water bottles are recyclable, a lot of it still ends up in trash cans.

What are the pros and cons of bottled water?

Bottled Water Pros. Convenience: This is one of the top benefits of bottled water. You can purchase these bottles anytime and anywhere conveniently. Convenience is the main selling point of bottled water. Cleanliness: Bottled water production is strictly monitored and regulated to make sure that water is clean and free of contaminants.

Why is bottled water important?

Water is one of our planet’s most precious resources. The production of bottled water came about due to the high demand of clean and safe drinking water to be accessible at all times. In the absence of tap water, bottled water has become an excellent medium to quench thirst.

How does bottled water affect the environment?

Due to this, waste problem has been attributed to bottled water. High percentage of bottles ends up in landfills and trash cans and this causes harmful effects to the environment.

Is bottled water expensive?

Bottled Water Cons. Cost: Buying bottled water is expensive especially if you are purchasing it very often. The cost will still depend on the brand and size of bottle. Remember that the cost of bottled water usually covers packaging, advertising, shipping and administrative costs.

Why is water bottle good?

It is highly portable, durable (the bottle it is) and can be sealed. These reasons make it ideal for working out, traveling or doing virtually any activity where you may need to drink water. 2. It spells convenience.

Why is bottled water better than tap water?

This is because of the purification process that it goes through before it is made available for drinking, un like tap water. 5. It guarantees cleanliness.

What is BPA in water?

Mostly, bottled water products contain chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), in the plastic container. These compounds can seep into the water, which means you are most probably consuming them. This risk is greatly increased if the content is stored in hot areas, like those where direct sunlight is present. 4.

Why is bottled water so popular?

This puts the product highly in demand because clean and safe tap water is not always available .

Why are empty water bottles bad for the environment?

It poses many unfavorable environmental hazards. The problem can start when empty water bottles are not properly disposed, which contributes greatly to the whole pollution problem. Huge percentage of bottles are ending up in trash cans and landfills, having harmful effects on the environment.

How much water do Americans buy per year?

According to a report, Americans buy more than 30 billion liters of water per year, most of which are contained in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This means nearly 900,000 tons of plastic, which also take 17 million barrels of oil to produce. What’s worse, it is found that only 20% of these bottles make it to the recycling bin.

Is bottled water a good thing?

Just connected to the first advantage, bottled water is very convenient to transport or carry, especially in places where drinkable water is not guaranteed, hard to find, found at a great distance or not available at all.

What are the disadvantages of drinking bottled water?

Cons of Bottled Water. Regardless of the benefits it offers, one can’t overlook the following disadvantages of bottled water. 1. Risk of Health Problems. The plastic bottles in which water is stored is known to contain chemicals such as BPA or bisphenol A, which might leak into the water in case of older bottles or bottles exposed ...

Why is water in a bottle important?

Due to the portability as well as durability of the bottle, the water in it can be carried along while travelling, sporting, working, playing, etc., which thus allows one to drink water anytime anywhere and aids to stay hydrated throughout the day.

What is bottled water?

The concept of bottled water is based on the principle of the fresh drinking water supply to the reasons where tap water is not feasible by packing it inside the glass or plastic bottles.

Why do people store bottled water?

Most of the houses store a significant quantity of bottled water for emergency cases mainly because it never expires and can be stored easily anywhere. This will prove to be lifesaving in case of disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes.

How many barrels of oil are needed to make bottled water?

As per a study, around 24 million oil barrels are required every year for formulating the plastics, which are the raw material for the products of bottled water. This implies that with every purchase of bottled water, we are enhancing the greenhouse effect, which is the prime cause of global warming because of which Earth is on the verge of collapse.

Why is bottled water so popular?

The reason behind its popularity could be the need for portable drinking water for people who usually travel or go to the gym to keep themselves hydrated.

Is bottled water more expensive than tap water?

When you consider the costs that are associated with sanitizing, packaging, marketing, shipping, and preserving the bottled water is all covered up by the water’s cost itself, the product is understood to be very expensive as compared to the tap water. And if bought daily, the expenses can be more than the milk.

Why do people prefer bottled water over tap water?

One reason that people choose bottled over tap water despite the cost difference may be that it can be more convenient to have a bottle to hand when out and about — especially if there is no access to a faucet.

What is the FDA's responsibility for bottled water?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)#N#Trusted Source#N#set the standards for bottled water. They require manufacturers to process and transport bottled water under sanitary conditions and to use processes that ensure the safety of the water.

What are the factors to consider when choosing between tap water and bottled water?

Factors to consider when choosing between tap water and bottled water include the safety of the water, its flavor, the cost and availability, and its impact on the environment.

Why is bottled water recalled?

In very rare cases, however, bottled water recalls occur due to contamination . One cause for concern is the presence of plastic in bottled water. Research indicates that most bottled water contains microplastics, which may pose health risks. One 2018 study.

Why does tap water taste bad?

It may simply be due to chlorination or a higher mineral content.

How to check the quality of tap water?

To check the quality of their tap water, people can contact their local water company for a copy of the Annual Water Quality Report (or Consumer Confidence Report), check it against the EWG’s standards, or both .

Why do people reuse plastic water bottles?

These plastic bottles also release toxins as they degrade. Some people try to reuse plastic water bottles in a bid to offset some of the environmental impacts. This may pose risks in the long-term, however, including the risk of bacterial growth and the risk of toxins leaching from the bottle.

What are the advantages of bottled water?

Another advantage of bottled water is that it is also quite lightweight, at least if you use plastic-bottled water instead of glass-bottled water.

Why is bottled water good for you?

Especially if you are on vacation and travel around a lot, bottled water can be quite helpful to avoid dehydration.

Why is it important to use tap water instead of plastic water?

The burning of plastic waste that comes from bottled water also contributes to the climate change issue. Large amounts of greenhouses are emitted into our atmosphere, which in turn speed up global warming. Hence, in order to slow down global warming, it may also be a good idea to rely on tap water instead of plastic-bottled water.

Why is drinking water important?

Bottled water can be especially important for regions that struggle with good tap water quality. Many regions are simply too polluted and the tap water quality is rather bad. In turn, drinking this kind of water can lead to serious health issues.

How far away are bottled water reservoirs?

In fact, the reservoirs for bottled water are often hundreds or even thousands of miles away from big cities and the transportation distances can therefore be enormous.

Why is it important to drink bottled water?

Bottled water also gives you the opportunity to prepare yourself in case of emergency.

Can you store water bottles in your basement?

One important benefit of bottled water is that it is quite convenient to store. You can put plenty of water bottles into your garage or your basement. This means that it will be enough to drive to the store, buy many water bottles at one time and just store them at your home.

What happens if you don't drink enough water?

Without developing a proper habit of drinking a particular amount of water on a daily basis, an individual might suffer from various side-effects like fatigue, dizziness, nausea and others.

What are the benefits of drinking a lot of water?

Drawbacks of Drinking a Lot of Water. Ensures to support the overall health. Can result in excessive sweating. Help in boosting weight loss. Can disrupt the sleep cycle. Help in improving the skin health.

Why is it important to drink water?

However, they have also highlighted the fact that the intake of an excessive amount of the same can ultimately result in harming the human body in various ways . Therefore, one must consume water as per the requirements of their body so as avoid any health problems.

How does water help with kidney stones?

Water definitely helps in getting rid of all the harmful elements from one’s body. The elimination mainly takes place through sweat as well as urine. It also contributes in helping to reduce the rate of kidney stones in an individual’s body.

How does drinking water help you?

Drinking a lot of water has been considered extremely effective for helping in flushing out all the toxins from one’s body. It is mostly for this very reason that the habit of consuming a good amount of water on a regular basis is stressed upon by most of the medical experts. Water definitely helps in getting rid of all the harmful elements from one’s body.

How many people died from drinking water in 2015?

It has been found that nearly 14 people have undergone a sudden death due to an increase in the consumption of water on a daily basis.

Why is water important before eating?

It has been proven especially that consuming quite a significant amount of water right before the meal can be extremely beneficial as it can cause reduction in the appetite. It instead helps in promoting a feeling of satisfied fullness to a great extent.