Researchers conducted a study where they asked people on the street to sample bottled water and tap water without knowing which was which, and state their preference. Most people could not distinguish between the two and said they both tasted good. The economics of bottled water are staggering, with $100 billion spent annually worldwide even though the production costs are mainly tied to the packaging rather than the water itself. Bottled water costs much more per gallon than tap water. The article also discusses whether bottled water is actually healthier than tap, noting that bottled water is not required to be tested as frequently and allows for some contamination, while tap water in regulated municipalities is generally very safe.

1. This’ll Trickle your Fancy Tatiana Cinquino, Patrick Chuang, Maia Thomas, Patricia Bodor, Kyrstin Ghezzo

2. "In an effort to demystify people's perceptions about water, we wanted to know if they could even distinguish between bottled and tap water."

3. "So we stopped several passers-by on a busy downtown street and asked them to sample bottled and tap water."

4. "Without knowing which was which, they were asked to state their preference."

5. "...So which is bottled water and which is tap?" Man replies, "I don't know."

6. "Wow! This tastes really good! It's gotta be bottled"

7. Girl drinks second cup of water And says "This tastes good also"

8. "Even children can't distinguish between bottled and tap water."

9. The boy drinks first cup of water "I like this one. It tastes good."

10. The boy drinks second cup of water ”And this one tastes good to. I Like them both the same.”

11. "The taste doesn't differ much, yet the economics of bottled water is staggering."

12. “The UN estimates that $100 billion is spent annually on bottled water worldwide.”

13. "Over 90% of manufacturing costs are tied to the bottle, the lid, and the label."

14. "Bottled water can cost $1 per gallon, while tap water costs pennies on the dollar."

15. "Are consumers getting a splash for their buck?"

16. Reporter is back on the streets. Through a street poll, health issues related to water are introduced. Reporter asks first person: "What do you prefer, tap water or bottled?”

17. First interviewee "I only drink tap." Positive tone

18. Second interviewee "Tap is the way to go" persuasive tone

19. "I always drink bottled water" Reporter then asks "Why?" Interviewee answers, "It's healthier" with a shrug

20. "IS bottled water healthier?"

21. “25 to 30 percent of water found in bottles comes from the municipal tap water systems."

22. Bottled water isn’t required to be tested as frequently for bacteria and chemical contaminants as tap water.

23. FDA bottled water rules allow for some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliform.

24. "According to the Natural Resource Defence Coucil it is not required that bottled water be disinfected or tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia."

25. "Tap water, on the other hand, can present risks for pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system."

26. "The contaminants found in tap water exist in such small concentrations that extremely large quantities must be ingested for anything to occur."

27. Reporter concludes with final question, "So bottled or tap?"

28. "If bottled water is not necessarily healthier than tap water, then why are we buying it?"

29. So far, it seems that marketers have been successful in making us believe that bottled water is the better answer for cleansing our system.

30. "Have they tricked us? The bottle water companies are banking on it."

31. "Otherwise, we will realize that the only product we're springing our money on...

32. “…is a bottle."