Tap water or bottled water: which is really better?

Each year, Dutch people drink 400 million liters of bottled water, even though our country has excellent quality tap water. But is tap water truly better? And when is a water filter the smartest intermediary step? This article provides all the facts.

What is tap water?

Dutch tap water must comply with the Drinking Water Decree, which sets standards for more than 60 substances, including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds. In practice, drinking water companies often apply even stricter threshold values than legally required.

Approximately two-thirds of Dutch drinking water comes from groundwater; the remaining part from surface water (IJsselmeer and large rivers). After extraction, the water is intensively purified before it reaches your home via the pipeline network.

What is bottled water?

Bottled water is packaged water sold in supermarkets, restaurants, and vending machines. There are two main types:

• Mineral water: comes from a recognized underground source, may hardly be treated and must be bottled directly at the source (European regulations).
• Spring water: also comes from the ground, but may be transported and mixed from multiple sources before the bottling process.

Bottled water only needs to comply with 15 substances in the Commodities Act Decree on Packaged Waters, which is significantly less than the 60+ standards that apply to tap water. This does not mean that bottled water is unsafe, but it is also not by definition purer than tap water.

Is tap water or bottled water healthier?

This is the question most people ask. The honest answer: They are almost equivalent, with some nuances.

Minerals: tap water vs. bottled water

Both tap water and bottled water naturally contain minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The amount varies by region and brand. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that a healthy diet provides sufficient minerals, regardless of water choice. Those who want more control over the mineral balance in their water can opt for a filter that actively adds minerals, such as the PureFilter Mineral+.

Contaminants in tap water

Although tap water is strictly controlled, small amounts of unwanted substances may be present:

• PFAS ("forever chemicals"), present in some Dutch water sources
• Medicinal residues and hormone-disrupting substances
• Nitrates (especially in agricultural areas)
• Chlorine (added as a disinfectant, affects taste)
• Lead (in old pipes in the house)

At PureFilter, we see that customers choose an inline water filter precisely because of these substances: they want the certainty that their water is truly clean, and without the hassle of bottles.

Microplastics: bottled water is surprisingly worse

Those who choose bottled water for "purity" may not be entirely correct. Research shows that microplastics are found in 93% of all tested plastic bottles. American research (published in PNAS) showed that bottled water can contain up to 240,000 particles per liter.

Tap water also contains microplastics, but in significantly lower concentrations. Those who want to minimize microplastic intake are better off with filtered tap water than with water from a plastic bottle.

Environmental impact: the difference is astronomical

In terms of environmental impact, the comparison is stark. The production of one bottle of water costs an average of 2,000× more energy than producing and distributing a comparable amount of tap water. And that's not all:

• Bottled water requires 3,500× more raw materials than tap water (Spanish research, H2O Waternetwerk).
• The annual production of water bottles accounts for 2.5% of global oil production.
• In the Netherlands, millions of plastic bottles end up as waste each year, even though recycling has improved.
• Transport of bottled water (national and international) generates significant CO₂ emissions.

Tap water has a minimal ecological footprint: it is delivered via existing pipes, without plastic packaging and without air or truck transport.

Costs per year: bottled water is 500× more expensive

Imagine: a family of four drinks an average of 2 liters of water per person per day. That's 8 liters per day, or almost 3,000 liters per year.

With a PureFilter Mineral+ (€149.90 purchase, replacement filter from €49.90), a family of four saves hundreds of euros after the first year compared to bottled water, and you don't throw away plastic. View our range on our page water filter for home.

Comparison table: tap water vs. bottled water vs. filtered water

When is bottled water still an option?

There are situations where bottled water is useful or necessary:

• Lead pipes at home: in older homes, lead pipes may still be present. If there is lead in the tap water, bottled water is temporarily a safer choice, especially for pregnant women and young children.
• Traveling in countries with unreliable tap water: outside the Netherlands, bottled water is regularly the safest option.
• Emergencies: in the event of disruptions in the water supply network, bottled water offers a solution.

In the Netherlands, however, bottled water at home, at work, or in the kitchen is almost never necessary in the vast majority of cases.

Filtered tap water: the best of both worlds

The smartest choice combines the advantages of tap water (cheap, no plastic, immediately available) with the advantages of bottled water (clean taste and minerals), and eliminates the disadvantages of both.

The PureFilter Mineral+ is an inline water filter that is placed under the counter and is installed in 5–10 minutes. It filters more than 100 contaminants, including PFAS, microplastics, chlorine, medicinal residues, heavy metals, fluoride, and nitrates. Then, through the unique Swedish Mineral Rock™ technology, it naturally adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium back to the water. The result: tap water that is purer and richer in minerals than most bottled brands.

• Price: €149.90 (one-time)
• Replacement filter: from €49.90
• Filter capacity: 15,000–20,000 liters per filter
• Certifications: NSF 42, 53, 61, and 372
• Compatible with Quooker, see water filter Quooker

Want to compare more? Also check out our pages on PureFilter vs Brita and PureFilter vs Berkey.

Frequently Asked Questions about tap water vs. bottled water

Conclusion: tap water wins, filtered tap water wins even more

The comparison is clear. On all fronts, health, environment, cost, and convenience: bottled water loses to regular tap water. Dutch people who buy bottled water daily spend hundreds of euros per year on a product that is more harmful to the environment, contains more microplastics, and is hardly better for health.

Those who do want to improve the taste, remove remaining contaminants in tap water, or balance minerals, wisely choose a quality water filter. PureFilter offers an elegant, certified solution: the Mineral+ filters 100+ substances and, through Swedish Mineral Rock™ technology, adds the minerals your body needs. Install once, enjoy for years. No plastic, no hassle.

Want to know more? Visit our FAQ page or discover which water filter best suits you.