By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about the wastefulness of drinking bottled water. There is good reason to believe that mass consumption of bottled water yields a huge amount of waste, and that doesn’t bode well for our landfills and recycling centers that are already operating at maximum capacities. In fact, in the United States alone, the production of bottles used for bottled water requires 1.5 million barrels of oil. That is a non-renewable resource that could be used in much better ways. The question arises, then: Is bottled water better, equal to or lesser in quality than filtered water that is drawn from the tap? And, is tap water generally safe to drink?

The answer is yes and yes. Modern filtration systems are exponentially more efficient than systems that were designed just 10 years ago, and the quality of filtered tap water is easily comparable with the quality and purity of bottled water. In fact, some bottled water manufacturers simply use filtered tap water from a local water supply to fill the bottles they sell! One obvious solution to the bottled water eco-nightmare is to simply use reusable water bottles like aluminum or hard plastic containers. With the right cleaning and sanitizing routine, you can achieve essentially the same level of purity as with bottled water.

What about mineral content, fluoride and salinity (sodium)? Well, in the case of mineral content, most tap water contains trace amounts of minerals that the body needs to function, and there’s a distinct difference between filtered water, purified water and distilled water. As for fluoride, the content of this chemical in your tap water is largely a regional factor, but it’s fair to say that most all water available from both bottled and tapped sources contains satisfactory levels fluoridity and other mineral content.

If you’re trying to make sense of how your home manages its water consumption, contact The Lever Edge. Whether it’s a filtration system, a water softening system or a water storage and distribution system, we can help. Our team of water professionals knows how to best prescribe the right water management equipment and services to keep you and your family hydrated, happy and safe.