The Best & Worst Bottled Water Brands

I used to be no saint when it came to drinking bottled water. It must have been that pretty packaging with those serene ponds, hibiscus flowers and elegant waterfalls.

Marketing, baby.

Buying bottled water at the store became a habit for me, as it now is for the majority of the population.

We instinctively reach for that 24-pack in the supermarket for a football game or camping trip.

The clever television adverts, colors and design trick us into thinking that bottled water is somehow better than the tap water in our homes.

Let me give you the reality of the situation.

It's expensive, wasteful and, contrary to popular belief, not any healthier for you than tap water. 

Not to mention bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.

That's a lot of plastic, people.

The worst of it is that major companies, like Coca-Cola (who owns Vitamin Water, Dasani and Powerade), have recently admitted, following many complaints by customers, that they basically 'sell' packaged tap water.

You may have heard about the Coca Cola controversy concerning their brand, Dasani, a few years ago.

To summarize, they were marketing their bottled water as 'pure, still water' which, if you really think about it, does not give us any indication about the mineral content, contaminants removed and the filtration system used.

Now, you may wonder well, is there such thing as 'good' bottled water? 

Luckily, thanks to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), you can now check the toxicity level of each major brand and make the wise choice for you and your family.

For those of you who don't want to give up the luxury and convenience of 'new' sanitary bottles, here is a list of the best and worst bottled water companies according to research done by the EWG:

The Safest Bottled Water Companies:
1)     Gerber Pure Purified Water
2)     Nestle Pure Life Purified Water
3)     Penta Ultra-Purified Water

The Worst Bottled Water Companies:

1)     Whole Foods Italian Still Mineral Water
2)     Vintage Natural Spring Water
3)     Sahara Premium Drinking Water
4)     'O' Water Sport Electrolyte Enhanced Purified Drinking Water
5)     Market Basket Natural Spring Water
6)     Cumby's Spring Water

I personally gave up water bottles entirely. You just can't rely on other people to check for toxins in such a necessary element for life.

We need clean water to live. The purer it is, the better for our vital organs. 

Instead of wasting money on bottled water, I have a reverse-osmosis filter installed in my home from which I get my water supply. I do everything from cooking with this water to washing my fruits and veggies daily.

The best piece of advice I can give you is to invest in a good reusable water bottle.

When it comes to buying a reusable bottle, sky's the limit in terms of accessories, styles and colors.

I searched high and low and found my two favourite brands: LifeFactory and Klean Kanteen. 

I have reusable bottles from each company which I use every single day.

LifeFactory has a fantastic line of glass, reusable bottles for babies, kids and adults alike! They have an innovative silicone sleeve to protect the glass, water-tight seal and a BPA-free lid. Not to mention they are built durably for cycling, hiking skiing, running, etc.

Klean Kanteen's are made out of food grade, high quality stainless steel. They are stylish, durable and do not leach chemicals into you water.
 
I purchased a SIGG bottle a few years ago, but found the aluminium very malleable, being prone to dents and scratches. Not fond of my experience. 

Which ever bottle you choose, make sure it's eco-friendly, non-toxic and BPA-free.

But remember, the bottle is only as good as the water you put in it.