EDUCATION
The Truth about
the $13 billion dollar
Bottled Water Industry
& SUPPORT
• Bottled water is bad for the environment
Every minute, one million bottles of water are purchased globally, a habit that not only strains human health with the risk of chemical contamination from plastics but also burdens our planet by contributing to immense plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, only 9% of these bottles are recycled, underscoring an urgent need for a shift towards tap water, which is both safer and more environmentally friendly.
Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth four times. And, it will take 1000 years for the plastic to degrade.
• It can pose health threats
The plastic in bottled water often contains chemicals BPA and phthalates, which are proven to be hazardous to human health.
The non-profit, non-partisan Environmental Working Group (EWG) says, "The government does not mandate that bottled water be any safer than tap water. In fact, the chemical pollution standards are nearly identical."Historically, bottled waters have even been recalled for contamination with particulate matter, mold and bacteria.
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Not All Water Is Created Equal
🩵 Bottled Water: What You Should Know
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Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, but oversight and transparency are limited.
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Labels often don’t disclose the exact water source.
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Contaminant limits are rarely published publicly.
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Harsh chemicals may be used to clean filtration systems.
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Bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water.
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Some brands have tested positive for bacterial contamination.
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Synthetic chemicals from plastics and solvents have been found in several samples.
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Inorganic contaminants like arsenic have been detected.
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Propyl alcohol, used in cleaning equipment, is highly toxic and difficult to remove completely.
Plastic waste
moves through
waterways and into
the ocean, where it
breaks down into
microplastics that are
ingested by marine life. Scientists estimate that
plastic pollution harms or
kills hundreds of thousands
of marine mammals and millions of seabirds
each year.
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Reusable plastic bottles can harbor bacteria if they aren’t washed thoroughly with hot, soapy water and fully dried between uses.
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Some plastics may release small amounts of chemicals—especially when exposed to heat, sunlight, or repeated wear.
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Older clear polycarbonate bottles were known to contain BPA, though most major brands now use BPA‑free materials; however, “BPA‑free” does not guarantee the absence of all potentially concerning chemicals.
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Experts recommend limiting reuse of single‑use plastic bottles, as they degrade quickly and are harder to clean effectively
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Bottled water typically costs 240 to over 2,000 times more per gallon than tap water, depending on brand and region. (For example: U.S. tap water averages around $0.004 per gallon, while many bottled brands range from $1.00 to $9.00 per gallon.)
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Investing in a high‑quality home or office filtration system—paired with reusable glass or stainless‑steel containers—is far more cost‑effective over time than purchasing bottled water.
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Reducing bottled water use also cuts costs tied to manufacturing, packaging, transporting, and storing disposable water products, lowering both household expenses and environmental impact.
Bottled water
isn’t even subject
to the same quality
and safety standards
as tap water, and it can
carry the risk of harmful chemicals leaching from the plastic bottles used for it, especially if it’s stored for a long time, and/or exposed to sunlight and high temperatures
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Between an estimated 10% and 78% of bottled water samples contain contaminants, including microplastics, often classified as hormone (endocrine) disruptors, and various other substances including phthalates (used to make plastics more durable) and bisphenol A (BPA).
Microplastic contamination is associated with oxidative stress, immune system dysregulation, and changes in blood fat levels. And BPA exposure has been linked to later-life health issues, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.