Three ways to drink water
Most people choose between three options: water from the tap at home, water bought in single-use bottles, and water carried in a refillable bottle. These are not strictly rivals, since a reusable bottle is usually filled from the tap. The real choice is how you get your water and what you carry it in.
Tap water
In many countries, tap water is treated and tested to national standards, and is usually the cheapest and most convenient option at home. Water suppliers generally publish information about quality in your area, and you can often request a report. If you notice a sudden change in taste, colour or smell, contact your supplier.
A few cautions:
- Taste and smell vary by area. Chlorine taste usually fades if you leave a jug in the fridge for a while.
- In homes with old lead pipes, lead can get into water. If your home was built before lead pipes were phased out in your country, ask your supplier or a plumber about testing, and follow local advice. Letting the tap run before use is sometimes recommended but is not a substitute for checking.
- If you are on private supply such as a well, you are responsible for testing it, and the standards that apply to public supplies may not be monitored for you.
- During boil-water notices, follow the official instructions.
Some people add a home water filter to improve the taste. That is a separate decision: a filter changes taste or removes specific substances, and it is not a general safety upgrade.
Bottled water
Bottled water has real uses. It is handy in emergencies, in places where the tap supply is unreliable or unsafe, and for people who need a sealed, portable option while travelling. Its drawbacks are well known: it generally costs far more per litre than tap water, it creates packaging, and transport adds emissions. Bottles are often recyclable, but not always recycled, and the reality of recycling contamination means some end up as waste. Single-use bottles also feed the wider problem of plastic pollution.
The idea that bottled water is always safer or purer than tap is not well supported. In many places both are regulated, though by different rules. Mineral and spring waters may differ in taste and mineral content, but that does not necessarily make them healthier. If your tap water is safe to drink, switching to bottled water is usually a matter of preference rather than health.
Reusable bottles
A refillable bottle lets you carry tap water cheaply and cut down on single-use plastic. The environmental benefit depends on how often you use it. Producing a stainless steel, glass or sturdy plastic bottle takes more material and energy than producing a single-use bottle, so it needs to be reused many times to come out ahead. Exactly how many times varies with the material and the method of comparison, and life cycle assessment studies reach different numbers. A bottle you use daily for years is likely to be a better choice, while one bought and left at the back of a cupboard is not.
Common materials include:
- Stainless steel: durable, keeps drinks cold or warm, and can be heavy. Not suitable for microwaves.
- Glass: does not hold flavours, but can break. A sleeve helps.
- Plastic: lightweight and cheap. Choose bottles labelled for repeated use and food contact, and replace them if they become scratched, cloudy or smelly.
- Collapsible silicone: compact, though it can be harder to clean thoroughly.
Look for a design with a wide opening so you can clean inside, and a lid you can take apart.
Bottle hygiene
Warm, damp bottles can grow bacteria and mould, especially around the lid, straw or spout. Good habits keep this in check.
- Rinse after each use and wash with warm water and washing-up liquid regularly, ideally daily if you drink from it every day.
- Use a bottle brush to reach the inside and clean the mouth threads, seals and straws.
- Let all the parts dry fully before reassembling. Storing the bottle with the lid off helps.
- Take lids and gaskets apart. Some are dishwasher-safe, but check the maker’s instructions.
- Do not leave sugary drinks or milk in a bottle for long, and clean immediately after.
- Replace the bottle or parts if you see residue you cannot remove, cracks or a persistent smell.
Avoid mixing different cleaning products in a bottle. If you want to sanitise one, use a method recommended by the manufacturer, and rinse thoroughly. Baby bottles and feeding equipment have their own guidance, which is best taken from your health visitor or paediatric nurse.
Filling up on the move
Many cafes, public fountains and refill schemes let you top up for free or cheaply, though the quality of a public fountain is not always checked, so use sensible judgment. When hiking or camping, water from streams may need filtering and treating, and the right method depends on the source. Where tap water is not considered safe to drink, such as in some regions abroad, check local advice before relying on it, and remember that ice and water used for brushing teeth come from the same source.
Which is best?
For most people with a safe supply, tap water in a reusable bottle is cheap, convenient and has the lowest environmental impact. Bottled water has a place where tap water is unavailable or unsafe, and for emergencies. A reusable bottle only helps if it is used often and kept clean. None of this is medical advice; if you have concerns about water safety or a health condition, ask your supplier or a health professional.