Here in New Zealand you are much better off drinking tap water than buying bottled water. Tap water is one order of magnitude cleaner because it is processed to Drinking Water standards. Bottled water, on the other hand, is processed only to Food Grade: still perfectly acceptable but not nearly as pure.
I suspect this would be the same case in most parts of the US: tap water is normally processed to a pretty hi standard of cleanliness, even if it doesn’t taste particularly nice.
Waitakere City water — the stuff that comes out of the tap where I live — has been judged the best tap water in the world. It’s delicious, particularly ice-cold.
Anybody who buys bottled water here in NZ is a mug.
People think the economy is in trouble but we still live in a place where people will still buy water for a two bucks a bottle.
I’m calling BS on the whole thing.
My tapwater at home comes from my own well. I’ve had it tested. Its about as good as water gets. I’m good with that.