As researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar It was shownBottled water in the United States is often not as stringently regulated in terms of quality and safety controls as tap water. that it:
There may be more harmful chemicals in plastic bottles.
At least 10% of bottled water samples contain contaminants, not surprisingly microplastics, but also various other toxic substances, such as phthalates (chemicals used to make plastic more durable).
The truth is that there is no data yet on the long-term effects of pollutants, but what is proven to be toxic in the short term will not actually be healthy in the long term. Microplastic pollution has been shown to be associated with oxidative stress, immune system dysregulation, and changes in lipid levels.
It is harmful to everything
Therefore, we must be careful about bottled drinks, as their use entails significant health, financial, and environmental costs. Tap water is considered a greener and healthier option, yet a million bottles are purchased around the world every minute.
Plastic bottles are the second most common sea and ocean pollutant. The first is the bag!
They make up 12% of all plastic waste, and unfortunately little of it is recycled, and most ends up in landfills or incinerators. Moreover, they pollute not only after they are used, but also when they are born: their production requires a lot of materials, for example – and now let's stick to our bottles – 17-35 liters of water.
Some studies estimate that two-thirds of bottled water in the United States is repackaged tap water. So it's still better to choose tap water, especially if you have a water filter jug or a faucet-mounted filter device. What could be better than that?
Where does what we drink come from?
Of course, this is only good advice in countries where tap water is clean. According to the World Health Organization, 73% of the world's population can drink clean water from the tap. In America, tap water is strictly regulated, and 92% of the population are sure that they can drink safe, clean water that meets sanitary standards. According to 2024 figures, tap water is treated more strictly than in Britain, with only Italy and Singapore controlling it better. In terms of stringency, the United States ranks ninth in the world, Canada ranks twelfth, and France ranks thirteenth.
It is worth knowing that household tap water comes from four sources may arise:
- of protected underground layers,
- From the gravel bed on the river banks – the gravel layer along the Danube River acts as a good physical and biological filter,
- Karst water from limestone and karst dolomite mountains – does not need purification due to calcium and magnesium ions released from the rocks,
- from surface water.
This surface water in Hungary originates from the Tisza River, from the artificial reservoirs of Bök and Matra, and from Lake Balaton.
The water must comply with strict rules in terms of quality, but it is good to know that it is not completely clear. If it consisted of only oxygen and hydrogen, it would be undrinkable and unhealthy. It must contain many important dissolved minerals, the required amount of which is precisely determined.
Clean tap water is not available in many areas here, and is brought home from a well. This is unhealthy, and it is impossible in winter. Unfortunately, not everyone has the right to clean tap water.
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