Isn't Bottled Water More Expensive Than Tap Water?

Bottle water critics often claim: it’s 1,000 or 4,000 or 10,000 times more expensive that tap water. Actually, every beverage in the supermarket is mostly water and is far more expensive than an equal amount of tap water. It is useful to point out that the infrastructure of municipal water systems cost taxpayers billions of dollars that are not reflected in the metered water rates. But no matter how inexpensive municipal water can be, it’s not always available or convenient when a consumer wants it.  The consumer may choose not to drink tap water for any number of other reasons, such as taste and odor issues. Consumers often choose to drink bottled water over other retail beverages that contain sugar, calories, caffeine, colorings or flavorings they are not in the mood for. For them, bottled water is there when they want it.

When an emergency or natural disaster strikes and municipal water systems are impaired, bottled water is often made available to those suffering, as many bottled water producers provide whatever is needed to keep the affected population hydrated. In this case, bottled water is always there when the need it.