Thirst for Bottled Water

America's thirst for bottled water seems unquenchable, reaching nearly 30 billion bottles a year, says the U.S. News & World Report. Many consumers do not realize, however, that most bottled water is simply tap water, so anyone who is opting for bottled over municipal [water] for health reasons is misguided, the magazine says. What flows out of the tap in many countries is monitored to ensure conformity to strict standards. And when compared with the outrageously expensive bottled alternatives, tap water is also practically free!