Bottled water no cleaner than tap water

Researchers in the US have discovered that tap water may be safer than bottled water.

A report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) made the conclusion based on tests of the ten most popular brands of bottled water.

An average of eight different chemicals was found in each bottle of water.

In total, 48 chemicals were discovered in the bottled water, including strains of bacteria and fertiliser.

Bottled water is popular in the US as many Americans believe it is safer to drink than tap water.

Environmentalists, however, have long been opposed to bottled water as they see the plastic and energy used in bottling and transporting the water as wasteful when water is cheaply and readily available from the tap.

EWG’s senior researcher, Dr Olga Naidenko, said the bottled water industry is keen to present an image of purity to encourage consumers to buy their products.

She added that EWG’s research found the reality is hit and miss with bottled water no more pure than tap water in many cases.

The EWG now wants the US government to pass legislation forcing companies to label bottled water with the chemicals it contains.

The bottled water industry has sought to discredit EWG’s research by accusing the group of using a strategy designed to alarm people and non representative samples.