A timeless debate that can’t be bottled up

It has been a debate that has been raging for some time, but now the experts have weighed in on the topic.  Bottled water versus tap water, which is better for you and which is better for the environment.

An expert panel took to the stage at the World Science Festival in Brisbane to discuss this very topic.  The experts are sure that there are plenty of people that are convinced that bottled water is safer for consumption as the idea that tap water is filled with chemicals. However, one of the scientists pointed out that there are plenty of chemicals that bottled water comes in contact with before you buy it at the shops.  It was also pointed out that the chemicals in the plastic used for the bottles is absorbed by water the longer it sits in the bottle.

Western Sydney University social and cultural theory Professor Gay Hawkins made a startling point when she pointed out that 22 per cent of rubbish cleaned up from the coastlines consists of plastic water bottles. Professor Hawkins told the crowd, “We’re lucky enough in Australia, to live in a country where we have an effective and efficient government, that is obligated to provide us with safe water”.

Retail expert Gary Mortimer told the crowd that people buy the bottled water because of the illusion of betterment.  Companies that sell water promote it with words like “mountain fresh” and “pure” Mr Mortimer confessed, “As a marketer, I can’t tell you that brand ‘a’ bottle of water will not hydrate you any better than brand ‘b'”. He added, “As a rational consumer you would say ‘well actually, doesn’t the water that comes out of my tap also hydrate me’.”

What do you think?  Do you buy bottled water or are you ok with it straight from the tap?