According to a 2014 Time article, we’re getting more than we bargain for when we drink bottled water. Bottled water brands are actually selling a lot more than just purified water and we all should be more vigilant about what we’re sipping on.
Per the Time piece, Dasani water contains magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, salt, and purified water. Besides purified water, SmartWater has calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate. And Nestle Pure Life contains water plus calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium sulfate.
Basically, after the bottled water companies purify the water, they add these ingredients back in. But why, and should we be concerned?
Marion Nestle, professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health and professor of Sociology at New York University, told Time that, although they sound a bit scary, these ingredients shouldn’t cause alarm. In fact, before the purification process, these ingredients are actually found naturally within spring water.
And if you can believe it, these ingredients give spring water a distinct, sweet and salty taste. Water isn’t actually as flavorless as we think it is. Compared to distilled water, spring water is slightly bitter and more appealing, and that has to do with the added minerals.
Although, some beg to differ:
Distilled bottled water is 1000% better than purified bottled water. pic.twitter.com/1wKHTeOjNg
— Rutters Udders (@rutters_ranch) December 17, 2018
Most of the added ingredients found in bottled water are, for the most part, safe and somewhat natural. But watch out for other things lingering on the Nutrition Facts label. For instance, if you see that your bottled water has calories, this means sugar has been added.
And per Time, some bottled water brands are actually high in sodium. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends only drinking water that contains 20 mg of sodium or less.
Nestle says that tap water may actually be the better option over bottled water. “To the extent that tap water is clean and free of harmful contaminants,” she told Time, “it beats everything in taste and cost.”
Plus, you’re doing the earth a big favor by opting to drink tap water instead of that out of plastic bottle. In fact, here are a few ways we and larger corporations can help to reduce plastic waste:
RT if you agree: We’re buying around A MILLION PLASTIC BOTTLES at petrol stations in the UK every week! @Esso_GB @Shell @BP_plc how about putting water fountains in your petrol stations so we can easily refill when on the road?! #Waste #Plastics
— Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (@HughFW) December 14, 2018
#TheNine Instead of buying water bottles to drink I fill up a huge jug of water in my fridge and fill my cup up as I go. The less plastic the better. #SaveThePlanet#ReduceYourPlasticUse
— Krystal Kaiser (@KrystalK313) December 17, 2018
Stainless steel straws make great stocking stuffers, btw.
What's Unusual Here: One boardroom, that of a renewable energy company in Gurgaon, that has replaced the ubiquitous plastic bottles of mineral water with glass bottles. A trend waiting to happen pic.twitter.com/o5wne6fMrs
— krishan chopra (@krishnDG) December 16, 2018
Absolutely love having free water fountains in airports: this means I can fill up my water flask without having to buy plastic bottles. Well done Bristol airport! ✌🏼♻️ #saynotoplastic #refuse #reuse #reduce pic.twitter.com/xiiDwMgSNx
— Eleonora Faraggiana (@EFaraggiana) December 15, 2018
Wow! I never thought a big corporation would actually take this bold step. Wish all companies who sell water in single use plastic bottles would do the right thing too. Thanks RSA!!!https://t.co/bOv0SVFQKv
— Daphne Oseña Paez (@DaphneOP) December 12, 2018
Got faculty to agree to water pitchers and #ecosmart #compostable paper cups instead of 100 plastic bottles of water for today's event! 🌱 Lots of little changes= Big impact.🌎
— Sean Henry Miller | he/him (@smiller17x) December 7, 2018
Thanks to Lisa @TigersGoGreen for your help! #GreenAmbassador #sustainableprinceton #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/UVNYXeP2My
Do the most and donate some reusable water bottles to organizations and people you care about.
Or, get crafty and DIY yourself some amazing recycled water bottle decor.
1 of 2 complete! Collaborative effort between 1st graders & 4th grade morning art assistants! 1st grade painted water bottles & 4th grade cut them into spirals! These plastic chandeliers are a reminder anything can be art! #recycleart #ecoart #EnvironmentallyFriendly pic.twitter.com/o313PxFcVl
— Mrs. Rosen (@MTL_SVArt) December 14, 2018
We just like Robert’s sarcasm, what can we say?
If you’re going to continue to drink bottled water, you now know what to look for on the ingredients list (and also, please recycle responsibly). However, we urge you to invest in a great reusable bottle and drink water from the tap.
