There are several reasons to choose bottled over tap water. The first is convenience. There are many reasons to purchase bottled water over tap. When you’re traveling or don’t have access to a faucet, a bottle is handy. It’s also more convenient if you don’t have access to refrigeration or transportation. However, the environmental impact of bottling is much worse than that of drinking tap water. In the U.S. alone, bottling uses 4 billion pounds of plastic and 64 million barrels of oil to produce a single bottle of bottled beverage.

The second reason to drink bottled water is its price. It’s cheaper to purchase bottled water and is less likely to contain pollutants than tap. This is particularly true in areas where water supply is not safe. Often, bottled waters are not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, but you can still be sure that it’s safe to drink. For people with a compromised immune system, bottled liquid may be the only option.

The third reason to buy bottled water is the health benefits. For instance, tap water typically contains fluoride, which promotes strong teeth and prevents tooth decay. Another benefit to bottled water is that it’s free. Additionally, the plastic bottles used to manufacture it leach chemicals. Bisphenol-A has been linked to lowered reproductive function, adverse effects on breast tissue, and the development of prostate.

In an emergency, bottled water is essential. Earlier, most Americans only drank water from the faucet. Today, most Americans drink bottled despite being healthy and safe. According to the International Bottled-Water Association, more than 5 billion gallons of bottled water were consumed in the U.S. in 2001. This is the equivalent of the amount of water that falls over the Niagara Falls in two hours.

There are also other situations where bottled water is better than tap. In areas of the world with contaminated public water supply, bottled is the best choice. In these circumstances, the cost and environmental impact of tap is low. So, it’s still best to stick to the cheap, filtered version. In rural areas, there are fewer risks of contamination. But, in other cases, bottled is better.

While tap water is more convenient and cheaper, bottled is also a more environmentally friendly option. Many bottles contain endocrine disruptors, which disrupt the body’s ability to produce certain hormones. One of the most common endocrine disrupting chemical in bottled is bisphenol-A. It has been associated with a number of serious conditions, including cancer and impaired fertility. But if you’re drinking bottled, it is probably a good idea.