Tap water, dear readers: you still have it good

Let’s begin with a little truth: if you’re 60 plus, you’ve lived through enough to know that water from the tap used to be fine. And by “fine”, I mean better than fine: excellent. In Australia, our tap water is subject to more than 250 rigorous guidelines. So while we’re all off paying top dollar for some fancy bottled water, you could just refill your jug at the kitchen and move on.

Yet – and here comes the absurd bit – Australians are still paying through the nose for bottled water. On average, each Aussie spent about $750 buying around 504 litres of bottled water last year. That’s water you could have got for free from a tap (yes, really) and still stayed properly hydrated.

A quick sip of history – bottled water isn’t exactly new

Before we examine the luxury bottled stuff, a quick historical sip:

In Australia, the first commercially bottled mineral water was bottled in 1867 at Ballan, near Melbourne.

Globally, bottled water as we know it (spring water, mineral water in glass bottles) stretched back centuries – spa waters in Europe, glass bottle moulding from the 1850s.

In the 1970s Australia began to see imported “luxury” waters (Perrier, San Pellegrino) become fashionable.

What else was going on in Australia back then? Well – the Vietnam War era was ending, the Whitlam government was about to come in (1972), and consumer culture was shifting. People were more mobile, bottled soft‐drinks had taken off, the notion of convenience and “premium” consumer goods was growing.

So here we are in 2025–26, and we’re still shelling out for water. Why? Because premium branding, health claims, convenience, packaging – all that jazz.

The luxury bottled‑water parade – some examples

Here are a few of the high‑price contenders. Notice the tagging of “premium”, “alkaline”, “deuterium‑depleted” and so on. (Spoiler: your tap water doesn’t come with these buzzwords.)

Berg Water: Sourced from icebergs, and being sold for something like $15-plus a bottle. Icebergs, people.
Preventa 25 ppm Deuterium Depleted Water: On sale in Australia for about A$540 for a case of 12 × 1.5 L bottles.  The claim: ultra‑low deuterium (25 ppm), “enhanced hydration”, “support for cellular health & energy levels”.
Voss Still Water – 800 ml Glass: Around A$53 in some outlets for a case of 12. (Yes, you can do much cheaper.) A stylish glass bottle, Scandinavian origin.
Acqua Panna Water 750 ml Glass: Around A$75 for a case of 12. Italian spring water “from the source”, “balanced mineral composition”.
Icelandic Spring Water 1.5 L: Around A$64 for 500 mil pack of 12. “Pristine environment”, “premium source”.

What are the health claims, and do they hold water?

Let’s pick at the buzzwords:

Deuterium‑Depleted Water: The idea is you drink water with a lower heavy‑hydrogen (deuterium) content, which – according to some alternative‑health vendors – “enhances metabolic function”, “reduces cellular stress”, “supports energy levels”. Example: Preventa water lists 25 ppm deuterium, claims “metabolic support”.

Alkaline Water: Claims revolve around “raising pH”, “balancing your internal environment”, “minimising acidity”, “boosting hydration”. For example, an Australian product “ãlkalife Natural Alkaline Water” promotes “naturally alkaline to balance your pH” and “mineral‑rich to replenish what’s lost”. Water is described as coming from glacial springs (Icelandic), iceberg melt, “untouched by human settlement”, etc. The idea: purity, exclusivity, rarity.

Price as a proxy for quality? Australians are paying around A$5.40 per bottle (average unit) according to a UN report – nearly double North America/Europe.

But hold on: when you flip the bottle, you still find it’s… water. Yes, the filtration may be different, the source may be more exotic, the packaging is fancier, but from a health‐standpoint, many experts say: the difference is marginal to none for the average person. For example, one water quality expert said “there is no public health or water‑quality advantage in drinking bottled water” as opposed to tap water.

Why might you over‑60s care (or maybe laugh a little)

You’ve seen these fads rise: the boutique gin boom, the skinny jeans, the eco‑bags. This “premium water” thing is along the same lines.

For many in the 60-plus cohort, convenience and habit matter. Maybe you still carry a refillable bottle, maybe you trust your tap. The upsell: “premium water” often depends on making you believe your ordinary tap water isn’t good enough.

And frankly, if you’ve lived long enough to appreciate good tap water – smell, taste, clarity – you’ll ask: why pay luxury pricing for what drops out of your kitchen spout for essentially nothing (or a fraction of a cent per litre)?

If you’re health‑minded, good for you – but you’ll also know that hydration is hydration, and that saving a few dollars lets you put those funds into something perhaps more meaningful (exercise class, a good book, travel), rather than water packaged in glass that screams “look at me, I’m posh”.

The angle: still drink your tap water (with wisdom), but if you buy premium bottled – be wise

Here’s a gentle takeaway:

Yes: bottled water has status, branding, exotic sources, health claims. If you like the ritual, the packaging, the feel of it – go ahead.

But know this: for the average person over 60 (and younger alike) living in Australia, your tap water is very safe, very fine, often excellent. Marketing doesn’t always change molecular structure.

If you aim for premium bottled water, check the claims: what exactly is “alkaline”, “deuterium‑depleted”? Are there enough independent studies to support them?

Don’t feel that you must pay the premium to stay healthy. Staying hydrated matters more than paying more. A refillable bottle, water from the tap, makes sense.

Use the money you save to invest in something beneficial: joint health, fitness, social outings – things that truly matter in the 60-plus years.

Have a wry smile at yourself if you do buy those super‑luxury waters. Admit to yourself: yes, I enjoy this. But I also know I’m paying for the branding and the bottle more than a miracle.