Published: Jun 06, 2018 | 16:17 PM

Bottled vs. Tap? Get the Facts

Bottled water last year surpassed soda as America’s most popular beverage. It’s a $16-billion-a-year industry, marketing a product that—when purchased one bottle at a time—costs about $6 per gallon, compared to two-tenths of a cent for a gallon of Irvine Ranch Water District tap.

Since both bottled and tap water meet regulatory standards, the choice is a matter of lifestyle, not health.

Here are some facts to consider:

• Tap water is economical and accessible, particularly with a travel bottle.
• 25% of all bottled water is packaged tap water.
• Plastic bottles produce waste: 85 million bottles are manufactured in the U.S. each day.
• Plastic bottles are made from petroleum—1.5 billion barrels every year— and the production and shipping of them burns fossil fuels.

Make the most of your tap water:

• Drink it from a reusable glass or stainless steel travel bottle to reduce waste.
• Keep it in a pitcher in the fridge to chill it and let it breathe.
• Infuse it with slices of cucumber, lemon or berries for a healthy punch.
• If you use a filter, be sure to change it regularly. Carbon-based fi lters are breeding grounds for bacteria.

How clean is our water? Irvine Ranch Water District meets all quality standards set by the state and federal government. Visit irwd.com/water-report to read our annual Water Quality Report, released this month.