There’s plenty of discourse regarding bottled water versus tap water. While opinions vary widely, many individuals believe that bottled water is the way to go. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other alternatives to bottled water, or even ways to make tap water safer. These alternatives include a tap water filter bottle, reusable branded water bottles, smart self cleaning water bottles, and more. Otherwise, bottled water such as fresh Deerpark brand waters—or even top sparkling water brands—are usually pretty reliable. In this article, we outline 6 solid reasons why bottled water is healthier than tap water:

1. Purity
In order to kill microorganisms and bacteria in tap water after it’s drawn from reservoirs, chlorine is added. However, there is a large amount of chlorine that is typically left behind, which can be unhealthy for the body. On the other hand, plenty of bottled water undergoes treatment processes in order to remove all harmful particles. Thus, drinking bottled water can be better for your body due to its high levels of purity.

2. FDA overseen
Bottled water is overseen by the FDA, meaning that it must follow quality and safety requirements to be approved. These include protecting water from contaminants as well as ensuring that processing, bottling, storage, and transportation conditions are sanitary. Furthermore, quality control is implemented to create even more protection against microbial and chemical contaminants—testing and sampling of the source water and the final product also ensure that no contaminants are present. Thanks to all of these requirements, bottled water is typically considered safe and healthier than tap water.

3. Mineral content
While the content of minerals in bottled water will vary based on the source of the water as well as local geology, the minerals available in bottled water can be healthy and beneficial for those who are seeking them. Thus, it’s a good idea to check the mineral content of bottled water to figure out whether it contains the right minerals for you.

4. Convenience
While this might not sound like a health benefit, hear us out. Bottled water is available for purchase at most locations, no matter where you go. It comes in a container that is both portable and sealed, requiring no preparation. This means that, in an unfamiliar place—a different state, for instance—you can always count on bottled water to be readily available, safe, and healthy as opposed to tap water, which can vary from place to place.

5. No added chemicals
As mentioned previously, chlorine and fluoride are added to tap water in certain regions. Bottled water, however, doesn’t contain these additives, which many individuals prefer when making the choice between bottled water and tap water.

6. Safety
After the process of purifying bottled water, it is almost impossible for any unsafe contamination to occur. Tap water, however, is quite the opposite: it can absorb toxins and bad nutrients. Throughout history, The Public Water System has made many people sick—for example, the high amounts of lead in Flint, Michigan’s water. In this regard, bottled water is definitely the healthier and safer option.