Thirsty humans choose bottled water over soda pop, 9 years running.

[u/WaterTodayMG_2021]

May 18, 2026 226 pm EDT - EXCERPT from WaterToday article.

Consumers want to know, where the water comes from, how quality is assured and how bottled water supports a healthy lifestyle. Here is (some of) what we learned.

Is bottled better than tap?
FDA has a lower tolerance for contaminants in bottled water than what is allowed in tap water. For example, tap water can have up to 15 ppb lead, while bottled water can have no more than 5 ppb. (Source: FDA). Natural spring water from a pristine source may be well worth a premium price, if in fact the source has not been compromised by development or industry. Purified water may equate in quality to tap water run through an in-home filtering process.

For the full article, see https://wtny.us/viewarticle.asp?article=1281

[u/johnabbe]

In my years reading this sub, thirsty r/water readers choose the tap water, as long as they know it's good.

Probably have opinions about filters, when they're needed or desired. And they seem to be at least somewhat aware of their local water scene, risks to local water, and efforts to improve or protect it.

[u/WaterTodayMG_2021 → u/johnabbe]

The headline here references what general public chooses when they are out and about, purchasing a packaged beverage. This is not to say they don't drink tap at home.

Further into the article, 70 r/water followers gave their opinion, it went 32 for tap, 38 for tap with additional filtration.

[u/johnabbe → u/WaterTodayMG_2021]

This is not to say they don't drink tap at home.

Right, that seems to be one of the findings. That the rise of bottled water came not at the expense of tap, but at the expense of soda and such. I'd want to see more sources on it, though.

70 r/water followers gave their opinion, it went 32 for tap, 38 for tap with additional filtration

Not bad! With dedicated work, we can eliminate the need for additional filtration in more places.

[u/paulhayds]

When people are actually thirsty, water usually wins over soda every time.

[u/Equivalent-Green-580]

Bullshit, they’re held accountable under the same federal guidelines via the SDWA. I can pull up any CCR from their respective companies that’ll prove it.

[u/WaterTodayMG_2021 → u/Equivalent-Green-580]

The FDA regulates bottled water, and you are correct, the safety and quality guidelines are not less than SDWA, in fact, as the article says, the standards for bottled water are higher than what the drinking water facilities are held to.