Despite tough economic times, people are still shelling out money for bottled water. Why? The primary motivator is convenience, not perceived health benefits, according to a study conducted in the United Kingdom.
Although most study participants said there were general health benefits to bottled water, they were unsure exactly what these benefits were and considered them negligible.
Despite a vague belief about increased healthfulness, most could not identify the health benefit. The most commonly given reason for purchasing bottled water was convenience. Many participants said they drank tap water at home, but purchased bottled water when they were out and about.
“Interestingly, while the majority of participants expressed the belief that bottled water has health benefits of some kind, paradoxically these same participants also stated that the health benefits of bottled water are negligible or nonexistent,” researchers write in the study. “This perhaps reflects confusion in the general public.”
No wonder they are confused. Although Americans drank 9 billion gallons of bottled water last year, or slightly more than 29 gallons for every man, woman, and child in the country, they also spent $22 billion on a product that critics of the bottled water industry say they should be getting for free from their home faucets.
Roughly 45% of the water sold in single-serve bottles comes from a municipal water source!
By law, bottled water that comes from a municipal water supply has to disclose this on its label unless the bottler takes steps to further purify the water, which most do. In this case, the label will say "purified water" or "purified drinking water," but the original source is probably tap water.
Water labeled "spring water" comes from an underground water spring, but it may be piped to the bottling plant.
"Mineral water" comes from an underground source and must contain no less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids, such as salts, sulfur compounds, and gasses. No minerals may be added to the water by the bottler.
"Artesian water" or "artesian well water" must come from a well that taps a confined aquifer.
Are you someone who spends money on bottled water? If so, what's your reason for it?
Healthkicker.com
Gentemann@xanga
Premium
Comments (44)
I don't get why people buy bottled water. My mom buys this water called Fiji thats 25 dollars per like 12 pack. She claims it tasted "better". I'm a green person, and i put normal tap water in the bottle and reuse it. She never knew the diffrence.
Highly filtered water taste a lot "lighter" (you don't taste all the extra minerals and additives) than your usual tap water. The water that I tried testing had only 30 PPM, compared to Nestle which had the highest PPM in their bottles. As far I can say, the less PPM in the bottle, the better it tastes. Cheers.
no, why would i spend money on bottled water when i have in home filtered water. i've seen shows where they did tests and studies on bottled water and found some "purified water" actually comes straight from the tap or worse...underground or even used. no thanks.
I drink both bottled water and tap water, I for mineral water since I always look for the best deals I can get.
Taste I dont drink much bottle water but try to aim for 1 or 2 glass per day and the rest bottle water.
I drink bottled water because I am not use to the pathogens of this country. And because I am leary of getting Bilharsia for the THIRD time since living here.
Nope. no bottled water for me.
Don't like how resource intensive it is to make a bottle which just gets chucked out anyway (I read to make a plastic bottle it takes something like half that bottle of petroleum and twice that bottle of water, plus the water it get filled up with). Even if you recycle it, that's still bad.
And every single day where ever I go I always see lots and lots of bottles just chucked in the bin. People don't recycle when they're out and about (to inconvenient?) but that's where people use bottled water most.
Also just don't like paying for what I can get for free. I'm in the habit of filling up a water bottle before I leave the house, so I never have to buy one.
Teach Your Child the Value of Saving
Teaching children the importance of saving money early on can provide
them with a lesson in life that will become especially useful once they
leave home. And since most schools do not teach young people about the
importance of regular saving, the responsibility is often left with the
parent.
Earn money without investment using the internet
Fast Money: Tips to Save Money Fast
i always have bottled/sparkling/flavoured water.. because my area's tap water supply tastes seriously disgusting! I also can't drink loads of bottled still water even so usually go for sparkling or no sugar flavoured like volvic and stuff!
Why? Because I make my oewn money, have my own mind, and, oh yeah, because I can. I buy it because in some circumstances, it is not only handy to have botled water, but also necessary.
It's good to have bottled water around just in case of an emergency, and for convenience sake.
@helixsky@xanga - I have better chances of good tap here than in the countries I go to, though : )
From my experience, most tap water has a nasty taste like metal or chlorine. I guess people who have been drinking tap water all their life don't notice the taste though.
At my house, we use a water cooler for use at home and then we buy bottled water for when we go out. Sometimes we'll fill up a reusable water bottle with the water cooler.
I don't think there's anything wrong with buying bottled SPRING water since some people might not be able to pick up the heavy 5 gallon jug for the water cooler without spilling it. BUT, if you're buying bottled purified water, you're a fucktard for buying it in bottles when you could just use a Brita filter or something like that.
i collect the more expensive unique water bottles
Yes I spend my money on bottled water. Sater bro's has water on on sale a 24.00 back for 2.99.
In my county the water is so dirty... the water is white when it should be clear, now that I am with child I drink bottled water I even cook with it lol.
I don't want my child coming out with birth defects because I drank tap water !!!
Because people are idiotic sheep of course.
Most bottled and tap water sucks.I buy bottled water because the tap water around here makes you pregnant.
I rarely buy bottled water, but it is convenient if it is a very hot day and I'm out all day. If I'm home, I'll drink water from the faucet. But some people don't really have a choice when their water is sometimes murky.
maybe they water out de tap at home be stankin' or somefin
Ok this i my idea, install a mains water cooler with intregal filtration facilities and you will help the environment!