In General Biology 2, students tested tap water and bottled water for harmful chemicals and bacteria. Most students found the test results for bottled and tap water indistinguishable – which is what we would hope for! However, some students’ tests found tap and/or bottled water with high nitrates and coliform bacteria. This is extremely concerning, as nitrates and bacteria should not be in the water you drink. Both substances can have serious effects on human health.
Read the information on drinking water below and then, after reading, do some research of your own on the differences and similarities between tap and bottled water. Make sure you are using at least two reliable, scientific sources for your research. Finally, answer the question, “Would you rather drink bottled or tap water? Why?” Respond in around 150 words. Be specific and support your answer with examples/facts from at least two reliable sources.
In the United States, tap water is monitored by the city that supplies it and must meet strict safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In contrast, bottled water is not regulated or tested by any government agency. As a result, the contents of tap water is more reliable than bottled water. Legally, tap water in the United States is required to be safe to drink. Occasionally violations occur. For example, in Flint, Michigan tap water was found to be contaminated by lead in 2014. This horrible violation of public safety made international news and is still being mitigated.
In the City of Chicago, residents can get their tap water tested for lead for free. If you would like to find out more about your tap water, look up your local city government office and give them a call! Information on tap water is public record and we all deserve safe, clean, and free drinking water.
Bottled water, as mentioned above, is unregulated, so you must trust that the manufacturer is testing and purifying it well. It is especially important to understand the environmental consequences of drinking bottled water. For example, creating plastic bottles requires large amounts of energy – which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Waste is also a problem. Most plastic water bottles are not reusable, and they can take 450 years to biodegrade. Recycling them helps, but only conserves 33% of the energy used to produce the bottles (University of Queensland, Australia. 2020). Additionally, the plastic quality is reduced through recycling, therefore limiting the number of times plastic can be recycled.