What is the best drinking water option?
November 12, 2013 8:15 PM Subscribe
Been reading a few articles about tap water vs. bottled water, and some of these mention how tap water is at least the same, or even better (1, 2, 3, and 4) and of course, less expensive. I live in Toronto and I buy PC's bottled water (simply because it doesn't have that artifical taste that other brands have in my opinion), but I'm starting to look at other options. Between bottled water, water cooler bottles, and installing a tap filter, which is my best option?
To answer this question we need to know what your goals are. Do you dislike the taste of tap water, or is there some other reason you don't like it?
posted by randomnity at 8:20 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by randomnity at 8:20 PM on November 12, 2013
What's wrong with your tap water?
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:22 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:22 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: My priority is health. Expense-wise, I don't think I'll pay more than what I already am. If I'm convinced that one option is the healthiest, I can adjust to the taste of it.
posted by omar.a at 8:23 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by omar.a at 8:23 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: My priority is health.
Well, then in case you don't believe the articles you posted, here are some more:
"In the vast majority of Canadian cities, tap water undergoes far more regular and strenuous testing than bottled water.While the bottled water industry would like Canadians to believe their product is the only water safe enough to consume, these claims are false."
Source
"The CFIA only tests bottled water products when problems have already been detected - 'CFIA will test for [these] bacteria when the manufacturer is out of compliance and/or has been implicated in foodborne outbreaks.'"
Source
"Studies have shown that no North American bottled water is safer or better for your health than tap water. Furthermore, the regulatory framework for producing drinking water is stricter in most North American municipalities than the regulations for bottled water."
Source
"On balance it is clear that there are substantial health and environmental benefits from consuming municipal drinking water rather than bottled water. Municipal drinking water, unlike bottled water, is monitored and disinfected. Unlike bottled water, distribution and storage of municipal drinking water does not involve any risk of contamination. Also, storing and distributing bottled water is environmentally damaging because it uses large numbers of plastic bottles and is distributed by truck. Both the manufacture of plastic bottles and the use of motor vehicles result in consumption of petroleum products and emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, plastic bottles constitute a long-term environmental hazard as they are not biodegradable and reactions between them and various chemicals in the environment may result in the emission of gases that are hazardous to human health."
Source
posted by saeculorum at 8:28 PM on November 12, 2013 [21 favorites]
Well, then in case you don't believe the articles you posted, here are some more:
"In the vast majority of Canadian cities, tap water undergoes far more regular and strenuous testing than bottled water.While the bottled water industry would like Canadians to believe their product is the only water safe enough to consume, these claims are false."
Source
"The CFIA only tests bottled water products when problems have already been detected - 'CFIA will test for [these] bacteria when the manufacturer is out of compliance and/or has been implicated in foodborne outbreaks.'"
Source
"Studies have shown that no North American bottled water is safer or better for your health than tap water. Furthermore, the regulatory framework for producing drinking water is stricter in most North American municipalities than the regulations for bottled water."
Source
"On balance it is clear that there are substantial health and environmental benefits from consuming municipal drinking water rather than bottled water. Municipal drinking water, unlike bottled water, is monitored and disinfected. Unlike bottled water, distribution and storage of municipal drinking water does not involve any risk of contamination. Also, storing and distributing bottled water is environmentally damaging because it uses large numbers of plastic bottles and is distributed by truck. Both the manufacture of plastic bottles and the use of motor vehicles result in consumption of petroleum products and emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, plastic bottles constitute a long-term environmental hazard as they are not biodegradable and reactions between them and various chemicals in the environment may result in the emission of gases that are hazardous to human health."
Source
posted by saeculorum at 8:28 PM on November 12, 2013 [21 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you all, this has been very helpful.
posted by omar.a at 8:37 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by omar.a at 8:37 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Also, this is a surprisingly well-cited Canada-specific article on the subject.
Interestingly, Toronto appears to have some of the best tap water in North America.
posted by saeculorum at 8:39 PM on November 12, 2013
Interestingly, Toronto appears to have some of the best tap water in North America.
posted by saeculorum at 8:39 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Drink your tap water without filtration. It's fluoridated! Your teeth will thank you.
posted by killdevil at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by killdevil at 8:40 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Another vote for filtering your tap water. You might already be able to do this if your fridge dispenses water, the fridge typically has a filter built in.
posted by arcticseal at 8:49 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 8:49 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Bottled water may be tested according to Health Canada; Toronto's municipal water supply is tested every four hours.
I just had a consultation with a dietician yesterday that recommended Mio water drops (same aisle as the bottled water) to flavour the water or else use fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs to change it up a bit in a healthy way.
posted by saucysault at 8:53 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just had a consultation with a dietician yesterday that recommended Mio water drops (same aisle as the bottled water) to flavour the water or else use fresh fruits, vegetables or herbs to change it up a bit in a healthy way.
posted by saucysault at 8:53 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mod note: One comment removed, thread needs to not turn into a debate over fluoride. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:04 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:04 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: The tap water in Toronto is great, if a bit hard. Don't know why you'd bother with bottled water here unless it is carbonated.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:18 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:18 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: Toronto tap water is safe, tasty and cheap. Drink it straight from the tap!
Well, maybe from a cup but why bother when brushing your teeth!
posted by saradarlin at 9:35 PM on November 12, 2013
Well, maybe from a cup but why bother when brushing your teeth!
posted by saradarlin at 9:35 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: I've heard one argument against tap water that gave me pause: the pipes the water goes through to reach the tap can be old and pollute the water, so all the testing that's done before that point doesn't give a true picture of what we end up drinking.
posted by Dragonness at 10:23 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Dragonness at 10:23 PM on November 12, 2013
Best answer: fellow Torontonian here (hi!) - I love the tap water - for the best taste, fill a bottle and refrigerate your water for a day or so, it's great when nice and cold.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:10 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:10 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Drink your tap water without filtration. It's fluoridated!
Most water filters do not remove fluoride, so if you want to filter for taste and still get fluoride, you can—check details for the particular filter you're considering.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:14 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Most water filters do not remove fluoride, so if you want to filter for taste and still get fluoride, you can—check details for the particular filter you're considering.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:14 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: To Dragonness's point: this is why it's recommended, if you live in an older building, to run the water until it feels cold (so you get fresh water instead of what's been sitting around in your building pipe) and to only use cold tap water for drinking/cooking (since hot water can leach more crud out of old pipes).
posted by nonane at 5:20 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by nonane at 5:20 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:18 PM on November 12, 2013 [6 favorites]