For one reason or another, people are opting to drink their water out of bottles instead of the tap. Some are afraid of contamination, while others simply prefer the taste of crisp, clean spring water. Whatever the reason, the bottled water industry is booming, and bottled water home coolers are popping up in kitchens across the country.
The debate over tap water vs. bottled water has been waging for years. Many bottled water proponents insist that tap water tastes so awful that it is completely undrinkable. Other people simply prefer the crisp, clean taste of bottled water to that of their local tap water, which they think tastes and smells strange.
It is certainly true that tap water does often have a peculiar taste or aroma, and depending upon where you live it can be downright unpleasant. This is because chemicals like chlorine are added to the water in order to lower bacteria levels. Geographic factors like high concentrations of iron or sulfur also contribute to foul smelling and bad tasting drinking water.
Aside from polluting the taste of tap water, these chemicals are a major concern in the tap water vs. bottled water debate. They feel that the addition of chemicals to tap water pose health risks for certain people, including women that are pregnant or nursing. Some people are concerned that the chemicals being used to treat the public water supplies are creating other serious problems that have yet to be discovered or addressed.
Fear of contamination is another reason that so many families have turned their back on tap water and have had bottled water home coolers installed. While local drinking water is strictly regulated, outbreaks of contamination still occur. Many people simply do not want to risk becoming sick from drinking tap water that is contaminated with high levels of bacteria.
Tap water is generally clean and safe, as it is subject to strict regulations. But bottled water is subject to much more rigorous standards and regulations. That’s because it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while tap water is regulated by local authorities.
Many manufacturers now offer home delivery service. This makes it extremely convenient for people to enjoy their favorite bottled water without having to drag home heavy jugs and cases of water from the store.
There has been a great deal of concern about the excess plastic waste from plastic water bottles piling up in landfills across the country. But with bottled water home coolers, that is not a problem. The coolers are recycled, and the delivery service picks up the empties every time they deliver a new supply to your home.
Keeping your body properly hydrated is essential to your health. So if concerns about your local tap water are keeping you from drinking enough water every day, you might want to think about installing a bottled water home cooler.