You might have heard the rule that you should be drinking about 8 glasses of water a day. The truth is, you should actually be drinking more. 

Men need about 15.5 cups of water a day, and women need about 11.5. And although this can vary from person to person, that is still a lot of water! Don't you want to make sure that the water you're drinking is the best?

If you have been wondering about bottled water vs. filtered water, you've come to the right place. We'll break down the differences for you and help you make the best choice for your health.

Benefits of Drinking Water

You might be wondering, is bottled water bad? When it comes down to it, it's just important to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. There may be some options that are better than others, but hydration is the name of the game. 

The human body is composed of about 60% water, and it helps maintain a lot of different body systems. Drinking enough water can help you regulate your internal body temperature, keep your organs functioning, and keep your cells healthy.

Drinking enough water also helps avoid little, everyday annoyances like headaches or dry, chapped lips. These things, though, are usually signs that you are already dehydrated, and it's important to stay out ahead of it. You should be drinking water all day long, not only when your body is telling you it needs it. 

It's a good idea to always keep water nearby, meaning your chosen drinking water should be easy and convenient for you.

The Pros and Cons of Bottled Water

If you do have the option to choose between different options for your drinking water, it's important to know the nature of your choices. When it comes to bottled water, there are definitely advantages and disadvantages. 

One advantage of bottled water is that you can usually get it almost anywhere, and you can carry it around with you. Also, if you were in an emergency, you would be able to store bottled water for a long period of time. 

On the flip side, drinking bottled water has a huge environmental impact. About 60 million plastic bottles get thrown out every day in the United States, and most of those end up in landfills. 

In addition to the negative impacts on the environment, the bottled water industry is relatively unregulated. This means the FDA does not require companies to tell their customers where the water came from, how or if it's been treated, or if it contains any contaminants. In light of this, you can't always count on what's in the bottle in your hand.

The Deal With Filtered Water

Filtered water is tap water that has run through a filter, so it's clean, and the contaminants have been removed.

There are a bunch of different options for filtering your water, including carbon filters, which are the kind most often found in the water pitchers you can store in your fridge. 

When it comes to the benefits of filtered water, the list could go on. First and foremost, it's convenient to be able to filter your tap water at home. That way, you always have purified filter water available at your fingertips. And if you invest in a reusable water bottle, you can carry your filtered water with you anywhere you go.

In the long run, it's also cheaper to drink filtered water than bottled water. While you might spend more on a filter upfront, you save money from not buying cases of bottled water. 

Plus, because water filters help remove various contaminants from your water, your purified filtered water is actually healthier. You avoid consuming chlorine, lead, pesticides or herbicides, as well as PFOA.

Although you may have to replace the filters in your water filter, when it comes to bottled water vs. filtered water, filtered water comes out on top regarding waste and environmental impact. 

Types of Water Filters

Depending on your water filtration needs, there are a number of different options for making sure you have purified filtered water at the ready whenever you need it. And if you're not sure where to start, we're here to answer some questions and lay out the possibilities. 

One option is to get what's called a whole house water filter. These do exactly what the name suggests: they help make sure that you have clean, uncontaminated water coming from every faucet in your home.

There are also under sink water filters. These can be installed and uninstalled fairly easily, bringing you purified filtered water to one specific faucet. One benefit of under sink filters is that you can move them if necessary. 

If you'd like your filtered water separate from your faucets, you can try a countertop filtration system. This is the type of water filter that Berkey® makes, and they sit on top of the counter or on a small table. Owners add the water themselves and then need only to turn a tap to access the water!

Bottled Water vs. Filtered Water: The Winner

When it comes to bottled water vs. filtered water, purified filtered water clearly wins out for convenience, environmental impact, and your health. It helps avoid adding more bottles to landfills and gives you the cleanest water to keep you hydrated every day.

Plus, when you get a water filtration system in your own home, it's there for you anytime you need it. If you're interested in exploring some of our filtration options, head over to our products page. Or, if you still have some questions, check out our FAQs!