Water is essential to all forms of life. It covers 72% of the planet, and over 60% of our bodies are made up of it. It is one of man's primary needs, according to Maslow's pyramid.

What is in bottled water?

A story that flows naturally

You may not have known it, but the first bottled water was produced in the UK in 1621. It really took off in 1844, when an innkeeper in the USA, lying on his deathbed, drank water from his local spring [1]. He felt better and attributed therapeutic properties to his water. Word of mouth spread, and the inn became a spa, with visitors leaving with a small bottle of water. This was the birth of the Poland Spring brand.

In France, it was the spa treatment (very popular in the early 20th century) that propelled the bottling of waters. Evian, Vittel and Perrier patients returned home with a full bottle to prolong the benefits of their spa treatment. Reputation made. It wasn't until the arrival of supermarkets in the 1960s that bottled water enjoyed the boom it still enjoys today.

Around 7 billion bottles of water are sold each year in France, i.e. around 135L/capita [2], putting us in the top 5 worldwide in terms of per capita bottle consumption. Nevertheless, it is possible to see a trend in an environmentally-friendly direction, with 30% of French people indicating that they have reduced their consumption of bottled water [3].

Advantages and disadvantages of bottled water

It should be remembered that the bottling plant is primarily a factory specializing in the manufacture of plastic bottles. And it has been found that the water is contaminated before it is bottled. That there are plastics in a bottle of water that is itself made of plastic doesn't surprise anyone. What is, however, is the sheer number of them. And their effects on the body.

According to an American study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 8, 2024 [4], around 240,000 fragments of micro and nano plastics have been detected per liter of water, all brands combined. Of these, 90% are nano plastics, particles so fine that they can “pass through the bloodstream and reach various organs, such as the brain and reproductive organs, thus disrupting their functioning”. However, their degree of toxicity remains uncertain.

These tiny particles include materials such as polyamide (nylon), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polystyrene, polypropylene and polyethylene. PET and polyethylene come directly from plastic bottles, while substances like PVC, containing stabilizers such as lead and cadmium in minute quantities, as well as polystyrene, are present in water even before it is bottled. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkylated carcinogens known as eternal pollutants because of their persistence in the environment and in living organisms) are naturally present [7].

Add to that the overexploitation of groundwater and the energy used to manufacture a bottle : 

• 0.1 liters of oil

• 42 liters of gas

• 80 grams of coal

• 2 liters of water

Let's not forget the kilometers traveled between the bottling plant and the consumer's glass (300 km on average in France), and we discover that our water doesn't really come from a spring.

That's 267 grams of CO2 per liter of water[3].

However, bottled water has undeniable qualities. For example, mineral waters containing more than 600 mg/liter of bicarbonate aid digestion, while those rich in sodium (more than 200 mg/liter) are ideal for athletes. What's more, low mineral content waters are ideal for infant nutrition.

Finally, natural mineral waters are a source of trace elements such as silica, fluoride, zinc and copper, which play an essential role in the body's proper functioning. It should be remembered, however, that until 1950, mineral waters were sold in pharmacies as medicines, and that when highly mineralized, they are not intended for permanent consumption.

What's in our tap water?

Advantages and disadvantages of tap water

In France, 2/3 of the population drink tap water [8]. But where does it come from, and what's in the water we drink?

First of all, unlike bottled water, it comes from three main sources: rivers, lakes and groundwater. Of course, it is treated, filtered, disinfected and decanted. But its taste can be unpleasant, depending on the region you live in.

While it too contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, it may also contain other substances that are less healthy, or even totally harmful, the levels of which depend on the geographical areas where the water is collected and the processing methods used.

Despite treatment, traces of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium can still be found. These metals are the result of industrial or agricultural pollution, or simply of outdated pipes.

These metals can cause neurological disorders and kidney disease.

We can also detect pesticides and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which come directly from industrial solvents and the detergents we use in the home.) Some of these VOCs are potentially carcinogenic. Other substances are also frequently present: drug residues, microplastics and PFAS.

It should be noted that bottled water is not immune to contamination [6], unless it comes from a particularly well-preserved source. As bottled water is not required to publish the results of health checks, consumers need to be particularly careful, depending on the brand and source used.

Raising public awareness

Tap water is one of the foods most closely monitored by health authorities. And their standards are very strict, in line with European regulations. In France, all the information about your water is available. Either at the town hall, on your water bill, or on the government website : https://sante.gouv.fr/sante-et-environnement/eaux/eau.

In short, the dilemma between tap water and bottled water raises important issues for both health and the environment. Despite the mineral benefits of bottled water, it has plastic pollution problems and a high carbon footprint. In contrast, tap water, which is more prone to contamination, is strictly controlled and easily accessible.

• Tap water has many advantages:

  The first, and by no means least, is its cost. Between 0.002 and 0.005 euros per liter, compared with 0.20 and 0.60 euros per liter for bottled water.

• Secondly, its environmental impact: With tap water, you avoid the manufacture, destruction (and transport) of a plastic bottle. And it's easily accessible. Drinking water is available everywhere. And that's our greatest asset.

The reality is that in most developed countries, tap water is safe and highly regulated. It therefore seems essential to stay informed about the quality of the water distributed in your region, and to choose tap water whenever possible, in order to promote responsible consumption and preserve our water resources for future generations.

Water at your fingertips

To make things even easier, when you're traveling across Europe, the BubblesMapper community lets you fill your water bottles in the public sphere, thanks to over 100,000 drinking water distribution points in France, Germany, Spain and other neighboring countries.