The bottled water controversy is still raging, and for good reason. Where does bottled water really come from?
How many times have you bought and drank a bottle of cool, refreshing spring water in the last year? I’ll venture to say quite a few. For many, it’s the “healthier choice” at a restaurant or when out and about with friends. That may be true in comparison to sugar-filled beverages. But bottled water itself may be less good for you than you think.
Who Regulates Bottled Water?
Australia’s tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They enforce over 250 strict guidelines, and yet the quality of our tap water still varies across regions.
However, bottled water regulations fall under the responsibility of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). They have no specific regulations or rules for disinfection or quality control of bottled water.
That means the water you’re chugging down out of your bottle may actually be less healthy and safe than what’s coming out of your taps.
Tap Water
There’s also no stopping anyone from using regular tap water in their branded bottles.
Unless detailed lab tests are done on both tap and bottled water, it’s pretty impossible to say whether or not what’s in your fancy bottle is simply straight out of the tap.
You may as well be drinking tap water straight from your kitchen! At least you won’t potentially ingest chemicals such as BPA that seep into bottled water from certain plastics.
What About Natural Springs?
Some brands claim to be sourced from pure springs across the country. The problem is, it’s not easy to trace water back to the “pristine natural springs” it supposedly originated from.
It’s usually pretty hard to figure out if “bottled at source” is true. But logically speaking, how does one company mass-produce naturally-sourced water right at the spring?
It’s a great marketing ploy to paint a picture of a fresh, beautiful mountain spring as the source of your water. But the truth can often be very far from the subtle hints at pure sourcing.
What About Imports?
Some bottled water is imported. Australia imports bottled water brands from a variety of other countries. This means the water has to travel vast distances, in heat, cold, and weather-sensitive plastic, before it reaches your thirsty mouth. Is it still safe for consumption then? Hard to tell.
Conclusion
Bottled water is controversial, and for good reason. There seems to be a lot of mystery surrounding where it comes from, what’s in it, and what processes are done to it. But one thing is clear – it’s pretty much on par with tap water, except in price.
We recommend installing a water filter in your home instead of buying bottled water. You’ll be drinking the closest to pristine water you’ll ever find, and you can fill up your own eco-friendly bottles to take with you on the go!
Learn more about out Complete Home Filtration System: Revitalise your health & home with pure, filtered water through every tap.
Complete Home Filtration System