As you may have read, Business Insider reported a few weeks ago that on average, consumers are spending 300 times the cost of tap water to drink bottled water. In 2012 alone, Americans spent a whopping $11.8 billion on bottled water. That means that the average cost for bottled water is about $1.22 per gallon! In comparison, tap water’s average cost is just $0.004 per gallon.

Many people like the convenience of bottled water or prefer the taste of it over tap water. But, just because the water is in a bottle doesn’t mean it’s necessarily safer to drink than from the tap. Water systems in the United States are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and are required to test for more than 100 contaminants regularly, so you can have confidence that you are drinking safe (and delicious) water!

Plus, it's important to remember that only tap water delivers public health protection, fire protection, support for the economy and the overall quality of life we enjoy. So as the conversation about bottled water and tap water continues, it's a good time to think about the importance of investing in those critical systems that keep our tap water service strong, reliable and affordable.

You can read more about bottled water on our website.