FIRST KITCHEN BLOGS

It’s the middle of summer and we have found ourselves drinking more and more water to keep up with the heat.   But this simple commodity, available to all citizens of the U.S, has sparked a big debate: which form is better- Tap or Bottle?

Why are we drinking bottled water?  Whatever happened to the days of lining up at the drinking fountain or dishing dirt by the office water cooler?  Everyone seems to have a bottle of water on them at all times and all places.  We’ll have it stashed in purses, left in car cup holders, a paperweight on our cluttered desk and right beside us on the bedside table as we sleep.  We are sufficiently hydrated but at what cost?

Let’s extinguish a few burning questions:

Is tap water safe to drink?

YES!  Tap water is regulated nationally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  along with local and state governments. They have very specific guidelines and regulations that govern the content of public water. 

On the other hand, bottled water is also safe and is regulated by the FDA, another important governmental agency but is not subject to as many guidelines, standards, or tests…it is more up to the individual company or corporation. 

To learn more or have specific questions regarding tap water safety, check out the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/safewater
Also, sometimes the water that you are buying in stores is flowing from the same stream used as tap water… The only difference is cost:  free vs. not free.

Is Bottled water better for our health?

NO!  As one of the most important public health initiatives in 1950s, fluoride has been added to water to help prevent cavities and tooth decay.  Fluoride is not added to bottled water.

Cost.  With our pockets drying up in the struggling economy why are we spending so much money to hydrate??  Your tap water is free and always available whereas bottled water costs money (over $1 per cup).  Not only does drinking tap water save money, it also saves our environment!