Are there any benefits to drinking bottled water?

The problem with bottled water is that many of their claims are unsubstantiated. Regulation is very poor, and much of this "mountain spring water" is actually filtered tap water, so you're paying $1 or more for what you could have gotten at home for pennies. Tap water is regulated by the EPA, while bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The EPA is stricter, better staffed, and tests the water much, much more often. nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/09/09greenwire... My mom is a dental hygienist and she says she can always spot bottled water drinkers right away because their teeth are softer. Many cities add a small amount of fluoride to our tap water, which increases oral health (and therefore overall health).

Finally, bottled water is creating massive, massive amounts of plastic waste. Very few empty bottles actually make it all the way to recycling, and the waste is just disgusting. Personally, I think if it's bad for the planet, it's bad for individual health as well.

There is literally a swirling mass of plastic the size of Texas in the ocean. franklygreen.com/my_weblog/2008/01/video... Quite honestly, I think the bottled water fad is about vanity. There is a great episode of Penn and Teller's "Bull S**T" (the show is on DVD now) about bottled water where they told people they were drinking all of these fancy brands, recorded their comments ("this one is more mineral tasting," "ooh, you can really tell it's from the rain forest!") and then let them know it was all hose water.

They all claimed to be able to taste these subtle differences because they simply wanted to think that they could. Buy yourself a reusable water bottle, fill it with tap water, and save yourself the money. If you want flavoring, add some lemon juice or whatever at home.

You're being taken for a ride by some clever marketing people and it's not worth it.

I believe the only benefit to be gained from drinking bottled water is to the manufacturer. The water is actually free, what we pay for is the packaging, advertising and salaries of the people who own the company. Although many places in the world do not have drinkable water "on tap" so to speak, I still think that boiling any water is preferable to putting money in the pockets of marketing gurus who take money that those without decent drinking water can ill afford.

I drink bottled water when I am in California. But when I am at home (in Montana) I drink tap. The water in California is putrid, at best.

I causes me extreme intestinal discomfort, incontinence, nausea and vomiting. Any "mountain spring water" bottling company under the poorest conditions is far better for me than the rancid excuse for water in California. If you can SMELL the water, something is not right.

Sometimes you have to decide what is best for you. In Montana, it's tap all the way. But I would never dream of risking my health for tap in California.

And yes, in California it is for vanity. Peeing on yourself in public because you can no longer hold it is quite humiliating. I'll take vanity over poise pads any day!

I am picky about my bottled water too. Some tastes too much like chlorine or bleach. Those burn my mouth and make me vomit.

There is one brand that I drink while I am down there. Can't remember the name brand, but it is the best for taste and health issues. And yes, I recycle those bottles.

I drink quite a bit of bottled water too. I love the flavored varieties, and you definitely can't get that from the tap. I'd still argue that convenience is enough of a benefit to justify continuing to drink bottled water.

Even if tap water may be healthier in its natural state, vitamin enhanced bottled water is gaining popularity now so it would not surprise me if bottled water is now better for you.

Totally depends on where you live. You could have your water tested to see. Or like me, you could just use a water filter.

I used to drink a lot of bottled water. I still keep a case around for guests or for every now and then, but I have switched to filtered tap water for the most part. I will generally drink a bottle, then re-fill that bottle from my $20 water filter pitcher in the fridge for awhile.It's much cheaper than burning through bottles and just as convenient.

It depends on the bottled water. Some are no better for you than tap, and you are exposing yourself to Bisphenol A in some bottles. It is far better to purchase a filtering device for your tap and use standard tap water in a glass-lined or non plasticized bottle.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.