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It's no secret we need to drink water. In fact, drinking water aids digestion, circulation, nutrient transportation, weight loss, muscle energy, skin hydration, and toxin excretion (Zelman 2008). But where should we get our water?
Water's origin often depends on our location. Americans drink more tap water when they are at home (two-thirds of the water they consume) than when they are away (one-half of the water they consume) (Sebastian, Enns, and Goldman 201 1). And bottled water sales continue to increase. In 201 1 , Americans consumed 9.1 billion gallons of bottled water (IBWA 2012b).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water. (Note: Carbonated, soda, seltzer, sparkling, and tonic waters are not regulated as bottled water [EPA 2005; FDA 2010].) But apart from the regulators and source, the main differences between tap and bottled water are the taste, fluoride concentration, and standards.
Some people prefer how bottled water tastes, a result of its treatment. Others don't like the negative environmental impact associated with the disposal of plastic bottles, or simply prefer the lower price of...