The Problem with Plastic Water Bottles

You know plastic bottles are bad for the environment. But the health story is just as concerning—and far less discussed.

Microplastics: The Invisible Problem

A 2024 study found that the average liter of bottled water contains approximately 240,000 plastic particles—most of them nanoplastics small enough to enter your bloodstream and cross cellular barriers.

These particles come from the bottle itself, the cap, and the manufacturing process. Every time you drink bottled water, you're consuming plastic.

Chemical Leaching

Plastic bottles are made with various additives—plasticizers, stabilizers, and antimicrobials—that can leach into the water. This process accelerates with:

• Heat exposure (like sitting in a car or warehouse)
• UV light exposure
• Age (even "fresh" bottles have been in supply chains for months)
• Reuse of single-use bottles

The Regulation Gap

Here's what most people don't realize: bottled water is regulated by the FDA, while tap water is regulated by the EPA. The EPA's standards are actually stricter.

Bottled water companies aren't required to disclose their water source, treatment methods, or test results. Many bottled waters are simply filtered municipal water—the same water you could get from your tap, with added plastic particles.

The Better Alternative

Point-of-use water filtration gives you better water quality than most bottled water, without the plastic contamination, environmental impact, or ongoing cost.

A quality filtration system pays for itself in months compared to bottled water costs—and the water is genuinely superior.