Bottled Water 101

A few important things to note about bottled water:

1. Bottled water is usually lower quality than public tap water and is tested less frequently for bacteria and chemicals.
2. Dentists often recommend drinking tap water in order to get some extra fluoride, which is known to reduce cavities. The government pays a lot of money to get that fluoride in our water! 
3. Bottled water has an expiration date, not because water goes bad, but because the plastic eventually degrades and releases chemicals into the water.
4. The hormone disruptor BPA is usually found in #7 plastic bottles and is particularly problematic when the bottle is old (don't reuse bottles by refilling) or hot (ex. leaving the bottle in the car during the summer).
5. Safer plastics to look for are 1, 2, 4 and 5 - with 1 being best because it's easiest to recycle and is generally more friendly to the environment.
6. If you haven't already done so, one of the best things you can do is buy yourself a good quality stainless steel bottle which you reuse daily. Don't forgot to also wash this bottle regularly!