I’m looking at three types of bottled water. One contains sulfates (10), chlorides(4) and nitrates (1). Are those dangerous? I don’t know. Are we talking parts per thousand? Per million? I don’t know that either, because the label doesn’t say. I also can’t find anything on the label that shows how this water was purified, or indeed, if it has gone through any type of purification at all. The water itself is from Europe.
The second type also lists no purification methods, and uses water from Texas.
The third type has been gone through the following purifications: carbon filtration, reverse osmoses, distillation, UV treatment, microfiltration and ozonation. In other words, this water is about as pure as water can get. Sheer H2O.
Which do you think is most expensive?
The first type of water is 5¢ per fluid oz. The second is 1.2¢ per fluid oz.The third type comes in a gallon jug and costs .5¢ per fluid oz. Note where that decimal point is. This water costs a tenth of the price of the first water.
How can this be? How can a purer water cost so much less?
Because Wal-Mart doesn’t spend millions of dollars advertising it’s Great Value house-brand jugs of distilled water.
Evian, on the other hand, spends lots of money on advertising.
That’s right. The first type of water is Evian, which, says the label, is from a spring “in the French Alps.” Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? And it may very well be that this water is very, very clean. But we shouldn’t assume that just because it comes from a spring in a European mountain range. I mean, I find myself wondering where Heidi’s goats go to drink. (Okay, Heidi and her goat herd live in the Swiss Alps. But I bet there are goats and cows and all sorts of thirsty critters in the French Alps, too.)
The second type of water is Ozarka, and this particular bottle comes from two springs, in Roher and Mofit, Texas. Doesn’t quite have the pizzaz of French Alp water, does it? (No snow-covered mountains, but there is a very beautiful painting of rushing water flowing between pristine green banks on the label.)
Again, this may be very clean water, but bubbling out from the earth doesn’t in and of itself guarantee that water is cleaner than multi-purified and distilled water. (Actually, considering that last year there were reports of springs drying up all over Texas, the thought of Texas spring water doesn’t seem particularly appetizing. Just my humble opinion.)
I looked at other waters as well. Some advertised themselves as coming from an "aquifer deep in the earth.” Well, the water I usually drink comes from an aquifer deep in the earth--via wells dug by my local water district-- and I get it by turning on my faucet. Some companies tout the fact that their water is “minerally free.” Surprisingly, others proclaim that their product has “added minerals.” So I guess there are good minerals and bad minerals. Darned if I know which is which.
The bottle on the right, according to its label, contains water "filtered though a state-of-the-art purification system." It also contains a "negligible amount" of salt. The jug on the left contains water that has gone through "carbon filtration, reverse osmoses, distillation, UV treatment, microfiltration and ozonation." Decide for yourself which water is cleaner. Assuming that they're equal in terms of purity, why would you pay 79¢ for the 12 oz. on the right when the gallon on the left costs 64¢? (If you pick the bottle on the right because it will fit in your car's cup holder, fine...but I'd suggest you refill it from the 64¢ jug!)
Others claim sources even more exotic than snow-kissed mountains, including a relatively new brand from Fiji. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Waving palms, trickling waterfalls....and four government coups in the last twenty years. I find myself wondering if there’s a Fijian equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration, and if those folks are paying attention to the purity of the local water or wondering if they’ll survive the next change of government.
The point I’m making? Beautiful labels and exotic-sounding sources do not necessarily mean that water is purer, cleaner or better for you than the water that comes from your tap. In fact, some bottled water may be that from your tap, since some companies simply bottle city water. (Look for the word “municipal” on the label.)
So ignore the ads featuring murmuring brooks and glistening waterfalls. If you don’t like the taste of your tap water (or you don’t trust your local water district to keep it clean) don’t buy the pricey stuff for the equivalent of a buck a glass or more. Get a filter for your kitchen faucet. Or buy distilled water. I’m willing to bet your local grocery store has it for significantly less than a $1 a gallon.
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