These experts explain why shouldn’t waste your money on bottled water... depending on where you live

Health and nutrition experts advise that you should keep yourself properly hydrated throughout the day. The rule of thumb that you should ingest at least two liters of water a day, or roughly eight glasses, has been debunked by numerous studies.

How much you need is dependent on your body and doesn’t all have to come from drinking fluids. But when it comes to drinking fluids, good old tap water is most likely your best bet, depending on where you live, according to the experts.

Save money and drink tap water

There is an incredibly wide range of bottled water to choose from these days. Some of them tout special health benefits but the scientific research just doesn’t back them up say the experts.

“Bottled waters can be expensive and you may not be getting anything special from them,” Vicki Shanta Retelny, a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), told the Huffington Post. “Of course, it’s better to drink any water than not, but there’s no evidence to support the idea that fancy artesian, spring or alkaline water is more beneficial for you.”

“Some of them can have added micronutrients and dietary supplements, so it’s important to be aware of those in the context of other supplements you already take,” cautioned RDN Sharon Palmer about bottled water with supplements. She advises that you should be aware of all contents the bottled water you are drinking may contain.

RDN Sara Haas says that you should “be a label reader and do your research.” Unless you are doing a lot of physical exertion or spending time in the high temperatures, “all of those B vitamins and electrolytes aren’t necessary.”

She added that, “as for the other additives, play it safe, especially if you have health issues, and speak with your health care team, especially a registered dietitian.”

“Nutritionally and functionally, [tap water is] usually just as good as anything in a fancy bottle,” explains Jenn Salib Huber, a registered dietitian (RD) and naturopathic doctor.

How to find out if your tap water is safe

“Tap water is generally safe and regularly monitored for contaminants,” says RDN Kaitlin Hippley. That said, in some places there could be a risk of heavy metals leaching into tap water from aging pipes, or there could be localized issues like E. coli contamination or pesticide runoff.

The utility that supplies your tap water should send you an annual quality report by 1 July each year, typically sent with water bills, that you can check. There is also an information page on local drinking water systems provided by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.

Additionally, you can look at the EPA’s Drinking Water Data and Tools website to see if your water supplier posts their water-quality monitoring results. And the U.S. Geological Survey has results of the water-quality conditions from roughly 2,100 domestic wells across the United States as part of its National Water-Quality Assessment Program.

Furthermore, whether it is for safety concerns, or you just don’t care for the taste of the water that comes out of the tap, experts recommend using a filtration system to remove impurities.

“A common reason for using filters is hard tap water, in which minerals and other impurities affect the taste,” explains RD Diane Han. “Filtration helps improve water quality, so it encourages healthier hydration habits.”

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