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For the past ten years or so, the level of bottled water sales has been steadily growing by 7 - 8% every year. The level of consumption worldwide is estimated to have more than doubled between 1997 and 2005.

Worldwide, around about 200 billion bottles are sold every year. The US market makes up the lion’s share of this accounting for about 25% of global sales.

There has been quite a backlash against the use of bottled water recently. The key concern for many being the environmental impact of bottled water. Polyethyleneterphthalate (PET) is the material used for most of these bottles. It is, to be fair, a material which can be recycled. The trouble is that recycling levels are estimated at less than 25%.

Energy usage for the production, transportation and eventual disposal of the bottles is another source of concern to environmentalists. Producing a litre of bottled water generates carbon emissions 5,000 times greater than that required for a litre of ordinary tap water.

Despite the very effective marketing of the bottled water suppliers, there seems to be no evidence that bottled water is, in developed countries at least, any better for your health than plain old tap water. Certain bottled waters have been found to contain estrogenic chemicals and even uranium. Most bottled waters contain salt to some degree- not good for your blood pressure.

When it comes to taste there is no evidence that indicates bottled water is, in any way superior to tap water. A blind tasting in London placed London tap water in third place out of 24 different waters. In the USA, an episode of Penn and Teller (hardly scientific but definitely worth a mention) proved that diners couldn’t distinguish between water from a garden hose and bottled water.

As far as cost goes, any comparison will vary somewhat according to what particular brand of bottled water is under consideration. In general however, bottled water costs several hundred times more per litre than water from the tap.

Whatever way you look at it, whether in terms of environmental impact, health, taste or cost - bottled water doesn’t seem to have much to recommend it. If you really don’t like the taste of the water from your tap then you could always consider some type of filtration system. The cost will be a little higher than tap water, but very much less than bottled water. Using a solution like a water filter jug is also environmentally friendly as all parts of the filters are recyclable.

And if you like to carry water with you when you’re out and about then think about using and reusing a bottle which can be filled before you leave home or the office. The Wottle bottle, for example, designed by Irish designer Orla Kiely, claims to be the worlds first designer reusable bottle and is manufactured from 100% recycled material. Or just do a bit of recycling of your own and use an old Pepsi bottle.

Brian Walsh - Want to find out more about a whole range of water filter options?