Filtered water and Bottled water are two sources of safe Drinking water that are go to substitutes for tap water, especially when the quality of the latter is known to be suspect. Learn more about the benefits of filtered water vs tap water each and which is better for you below.

Nutrients in Water

It may come as a surprise to learn that water actually contains nutrients that are beneficial to our Health. Many people turn to bottled mineral water, believing that it is healthier than tap water, but is it really?

First, we need to understand that the water sources that supply both tap water and water used to produce bottled water can contain different minerals, depending on where they come from. Some water sources can have more minerals than others due to the local geology and mineral content of the rocks and soils through which water flows before reaching aquifers, rivers or lakes that serve as the water source. Others may have high mineral levels due to leaching from water pipes or from the intentional addition of minerals during the water treatment process. Most water sources contain at least trace levels of nutrients and minerals that are essential for our health.

Bearing this in mind, some important nutrients found in drinking water that play a  key role in maintaining good health include:

1. Calcium — Calcium is a mineral that plays a key role in the development of healthy bones and teeth, as well as for maintaining the cardiovascular system.
2. Copper — Copper is an antioxidant that promotes cardiovascular heath and iron absorption in the body.
3. Magnesium — Magnesium is required for healthy bones and teeth and also promotes cardiovascular health.
4. Potassium — Potassium plays an important role in biochemical processes within the body, but is typically only found at very low levels in natural water sources.
5. Selenium — Selenium is a natural antioxidant that protects the immune system.
6. Sodium — Sodium is an electrolyte that is required by the body to maintain homeostasis, and needs to be replaced after excessive sweating.

Bottled Water

Bottled water is touted as being a healthy alternative to tap water, as it is free from contaminants, yet rich in minerals and nutrients. But is there any truth to this claim or it just a marketing ploy?

Countries that regulate the supply of natural spring water require it to be sourced from a underground aquifer or natural spring that is hygienic, contaminant-free and that the water is safe to drink.

Pros of Drinking Mineral Water

Studies have shown that bottled water containing minerals such as bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, iron sulfate and magnesium offer several health benefits. However, this does not necessarily mean that mineral water is healthier than other types of water, as these minerals can also be found in tap water and many of the foods we eat. Other sources of minerals to boost daily intake include:

1. Bicarbonate — found in bread
2. Calcium — found in almonds, broccoli, kale, dairy products and fish
3. Chloride — found in rock salt and vegetables
4. Iron — found in broccoli, spinach, dried fruit and nuts
5. Magnesium — found in bananas, black beans and spinach
6. Potassium — found in bananas, broccoli, potatoes and zucchini
7. Sulfate — found in broccoli, kale, garlic and eggs

Cons of Drinking Mineral Water

Studies have shown that drinking bottled water can potentially have negative health impacts. Harmful chemicals, such as BPA, used to manufacture plastic bottles, can leach from the plastic into the water inside the container. Bottled water can also become contaminated with microplastics and pathogenic microbes, none of which are good for our health.

Health Impacts of BPA Exposure

BPA is a known endocrine disruptor — a compound which disrupts functioning of the endocrine system and alters normal hormonal activity. Studies have shown that BPA can disrupt reproductive functions and feminize animals, causing males to develop female sex organs. Studies on turtles have shown that exposure to BPA can lead to animals becoming sexually rewired, causing males to exhibit behavior typically associated with females. Research has also shown that infants exposed to BPA are at higher risk of food intolerances later in life.

Health Impacts of Exposure to Microplastics

Microplastics have been found in fresh water sources across the world, and while you may think bottled water would be free from microplastics, this is simply not the case. A recent study has revealed that bottled water in fact contains more plastic than tap water, so in terms of exposure to microplastics, tap water is the healthier option. And of course the plastic bottle discarded once you have consumed the contents perpetuates that cycle by adding more plastic into the environment.

Exposure to Pathogenic Microbes

Like tap water, bottled water may also contain pathogenic microbes that can pose a health risk; particularly to individuals who have weak or compromised immune systems such as young infants, the elderly and cancer or AIDS patients. Common waterborne pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium, can cause severe gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting. The best way to prevent exposure to pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water is to filter water with a good quality drinking water filter capable of removing pathogenic bacteria, viruses and cysts, or alternatively to bring the water to a rolling boil for at least a minute to kill off any nasties.

Tap Water

Following several water contamination incidents around the country, consumers have recently started to question the quality of the water flowing from the taps in their homes. Some have opted for bottled water, thinking this is a safer option. Yet, water treatment processes and water safety regulations have improved significantly over the years, resulting in tap water that should theoretically be of a higher quality and safer than ever before.

How Healthy is Tap Water?

Depending on the mineral composition of your water supply, drinking 2-3 liters of tap water daily can provide more than 1% of the recommended daily intake of four essential minerals: calcium 6%, copper 10%, magnesium 5%, and sodium 3%. At maximum concentration levels, tap water can supply 33% of the body's daily sodium requirements, 23% of magnesium, 20% calcium and 10% of the body's zinc requirements.

Tap water can be an important source of magnesium, an essential mineral that plays an important role in supporting the immune system and maintaining healthy blood. In areas where the water is rich in calcium, drinking 2 liters daily can provide 6-18% of the recommended daily calcium intake. You can find the information relating to mineral composition of your water in water quality reports provided by your water supplier. These water quality reports, which may also be available online, list the minerals and contaminants found in the water, and at what levels.

Health Risks Associated with Tap Water

Tap water is supplied through a network of pipes, some of which were installed early last century, and having reached the end of their lifespan are in dire need of replacement. Further to this, many of the pipes that connect our homes to the city water mains are made from lead —  a toxic heavy metal, that is not safe at any level of exposure. It is estimated that 25% of homes in the US have lead water pipes, putting 120 million consumers at risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.

Exposure to Chlorine in Drinking Water

Chlorine is added during the water treatment process to disinfect the water and kill of pathogenic microoganisms. However, using chlorine to treat drinking water poses potential health risks of its own, as besides killing off pathogens, it can also react with chemicals naturally found in water to form new chemical compounds, known as disinfection byproducts. These byproducts include trihalomethanes, which  are linked to adverse health risks, including an increased risk of cancer of the colon, rectum and bladder, and possibly also an increase risk of breast cancer. It is estimated that drinking chlorinated water can increase the risk of getting cancer by 93%.

Emerging Contaminants

More recently, there is growing concern over the increase in pharmaceuticals in drinking water, including contraceptives, pain killers and other over-the-counter medications.

Conclusion

To sum up, both bottled mineral water and tap water contain essential minerals in varying degrees. All drinking water must meed certain safety standards and therefore is generally considered safe to drink. However, there is still the risk of exposure to contaminants considered safe at low levels, but which may pose a risk if you are continuously exposed to them for a prolonged period of time. Also, since not much is known about the health risk posed by combined exposure to multiple contaminants, it is better to reduce your risk by eliminating your exposure to drinking water contaminants as much as possible.

The safest option would be to invest in a good quality drinking water filter such as a Berkey Filter, that is capable of removing a wide variety of harmful drinking water contaminants (including pathogenic bacteria and virus, lead and other heavy metals, and chlorine and other potentially harmful chemicals) without stripping the water of minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy body functions.