Pure Water
And here is yet another study on bottled water that contributes absolutely nothing to the debate on which is better. The actual study can be found here in PDF format. The study itself is really as worthless as the article, although it does point out that the (mind-bogglingly obvious) reason that bottled water is so popular is that it is convenient. This, of course contributes nothing to the debate on whether bottled water is better than tap water, Better presumably indicating tastier, more pure or healthier.
To my mind the arguments about the purity and/or health benefits of bottled water completely miss the point of why they are marketable. Arguments around the taste of water are even more absurd because water actually has no taste. There have been several studies using blind tasting methods and they unanimously show that people cannot tell the difference between tap water (once the chlorine smell has dissipated) and bottle water, with one notable exception. People invariably find the purest form of water, distilled water, the least palatable of all. One has to conclude, therefore, that it is the impurities in water (the solute load) that produces the taste. This makes the arguments about purity even more meaningless.
The real reason the bottled water is so popular is that it is not being compared to tap water at all, it is being compared to soda drinks, especially the colas. As such, even the water bottled straight from the tap is “purer” and “healthier” than sodas. This particular study, as tiny and non-conclusive as it is, at least touches on the real reason that water bottling plants are doing well even in a recession. Water is better than the alternative and it is more convenient than tap water.
Of course, we could all buy plastic refillable bottles from the warehouse and fill them from the tap before we venture forth in the morning. But than we may run the danger of looking slightly dorky. And, much to the disappointment of economists the world over, man is not a rational being, but a fashionable one.
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Jun 28 09 11:41 am
I’m going to lose this argument before I even get started, but here goes
What you say about bottled water applies to coffee as well. They use a $10,000 machine to simply produce a face lift model of the old Bushell’s Instant, and sell it for $10 a cup.
What makes coffee (any coffee) great is absence for a few hours, thirst developed from mild exercise, and an acceptable substitute for cigarettes.
JC
Thou hast insulted the almighty coffee bean and the truth is not in thee. Thou art banished to the slough of decaffeination where eternal drowsiness awaits thee…
Jun 28 09 2:26 pm
Given they probably are from offshore, I wouldn’t advise drinking from Warehouse plastic bottles, or many other suppliers of plastic bottles.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/41628/title/Bottled_water_may_contain_‘hormones’_Plastics
Yes. I didn’t mention plastics contamination which, of course, also holds true for some bottled waters.
Jun 28 09 6:39 pm
“Of course, we could all buy plastic refillable bottles from the warehouse and fill them from the tap before we venture forth in the morning. But than we may run the danger of looking slightly dorky. And, much to the disappointment of economists the world over, man is not a rational being, but a fashionable one.”
But looking slightly dorky is a cost and that cost is greater than the price of bottled water, so therefore they are rational, in an economics sense..
This is true – for a rather bizarre economics viewpoint. Perhaps it should be called the “delusional science”…
Jun 28 09 10:27 pm
You will be pleased to know that the industry data shows water sales are falling. Whether this is a sign of the recession or the end of the fad is unknown.
Anecdotal evidence supports the former.
Here in Palmy Nth we have superb water from the dam in the hills. I reuse plastic bottles with tap water and freeze them.
Out of the freezer the night before and a refreshing bottle of ice cold water for the next day.