Tap Water vs. Bottled Water: Which is Better For You?

Is tap water healthier than bottled water?

Yes, tap water is better than bottled water for most Australians.

It’s more affordable, better for the environment, and held to higher safety standards. According to NSW Health, Australian tap water is strictly treated and monitored to meet national guidelines for drinking water quality. Bottled water, by comparison, is regulated as a packaged food product – and often isn’t tested or reported on as frequently.

Add in the cost savings and the environmental impact of plastic waste, and it’s easy to see why more Australians are choosing filtered tap water for everyday use.

Let’s take a closer look at how they compare.

Bottled water vs tap water

Cost comparison

Let’s start with one of the biggest differences – price.

Tap water is incredibly cost-effective. In Sydney, it costs less than one cent per litre. Bottled water, by comparison, can be up to 2,000 times more expensive.

To put that into perspective: if you drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day, tap water will cost you less than $1.50 a year. The same amount of bottled water? Around $2,600 a year. Most of what you’re paying for isn’t the water. It’s the plastic, packaging, transport and branding. And with Australians spending over $600 million a year on bottled water, the cost of convenience adds up quickly. If you’re regularly buying bottled water for your family or workplace, switching to filtered tap water could mean hundreds (or even thousands) saved each year.

Environmental impact

To know whether tap water is healthier than bottled water, we should look more long term. And bottled water doesn't just cost more, it creates significantly more waste.

In Australia, we produce around 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100 kg per person. Alarmingly, only 13% of this plastic is recovered, while 84% ends up in landfill. Even more concerning, approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic leak into our marine environment annually.

Clean Up Australia says bottled water contributes to this problem in several ways.

• Plastic waste: Most bottled water is packaged in PET plastic bottles, derived from crude oil. These bottles can take up to 1000 years to decompose, persisting in our environment and posing risks to wildlife.
• Carbon emissions: The production and transportation of bottled water consume significant energy, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
• Water usage: Considering the entire production process, it can take up to 3 litres of water to produce just 1 litre of bottled water.

In contrast, tap water is delivered directly to your home with minimal environmental impact – no packaging, no transportation, and significantly less resource usage.

 

Safety and regulation

Is bottled water safer than tap water? It's a common belief, but the opposite is true in most parts of Australia.

Why? Because tap water is held to higher standards and tested more frequently than bottled water. It’s governed by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and a strict water quality management strategy. Both of these sets clear health-based limits for more than 200 potential contaminants. Water utilities test regularly, publicly reporting on quality with results available through your local provider.

On the other hand, bottled water is regulated as a food product under Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). While it must meet safety requirements, it’s not subject to the same level of monitoring. And brands aren’t required to publish test results or disclose the source of the water on the label.

Then there’s the packaging. Research by the World Health Organisation found that many bottled waters contain microplastics (tiny plastic particles that can leach from the bottle itself). The health impacts of microplastics are still being studied, but their presence is one more reason many Australians are rethinking what’s in their glass.

So while both tap and bottled water can be safe, tap water is more closely monitored, transparent, and tightly regulated – giving you confidence in what you’re drinking. If you’re curious, you can find a detailed water quality report for your local area:

• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Brisbane
• Adelaide
• Perth
• Canberra
• Hobart
• Darwin

Convenience

At a glance, bottled water seems convenient. It’s sealed, portable, and ready to drink. But there’s the bulk to carry. The fridge space it takes up. The recycling bin that fills up faster than you’d like. And the half-finished bottles that go to waste.

Tap water, by comparison, is ready when you are with no waste. It doesn’t need to be restocked. You don’t run out. And when it’s filtered, it gives you clean, great-tasting water with zero effort. Leaving home? Use your favourite water bottle and you’re sorted for the whole day.

Taste and quality

Many people believe bottled water tastes better than tap water. And sometimes, it does. Especially if your tap water has a strong chlorine smell or a mineral-heavy aftertaste.

But taste isn’t just about the water itself. It’s also shaped by temperature, packaging, and even expectations. In blind taste tests, people often struggle to distinguish between bottled and tap water.

Tap water quality can vary depending on your location and plumbing. That’s where filtration makes all the difference. A good filter removes odours, chlorine, and sediment – without stripping away the naturally occurring minerals that give water its clean, refreshing taste.

Want to know more about what affects the flavour of tap water? Read our guide to hard water vs soft water.

Health impacts

Is tap water healthier than bottled water? Tap water and bottled water can both be safe. But when it comes to long-term health, filtered tap water has the edge.

Tap water in Australia is treated and regulated to high national standards. It’s disinfected and tested regularly. Did you know it contains essential minerals like calcium and magnesium? In most areas, it’s also fluoridated – something the Australian Government supports as a safe and effective way to help prevent tooth decay, particularly in children.

Bottled water, on the other hand, isn’t always fluoridated and often doesn’t disclose its full mineral content. Some brands use reverse osmosis, which removes both impurities and naturally occurring minerals. That can lead to water that’s clean but less nutritionally balanced.

Then there’s the packaging. As the World Health Organisation reports, many bottled waters contain microplastics. We don’t yet know the long-term health effects of consuming microplastics, but it's a growing concern for researchers and consumers alike.

Filtering your tap water can reduce exposure to chlorine, sediment, lead and even PFAS (so-called "forever chemicals"), without losing healthy minerals. It also helps remove the guesswork, giving you more control over what’s in your glass.

How to make your tap water better

Tap water does a lot of things right. It’s safe. It’s available. And it’s affordable. But depending on where you live, it can carry a few extras – like chlorine, mineral build-up, or that faint metallic taste from older pipes.

If you’re not enjoying the taste, or want more confidence in what you’re drinking, a good filter makes a big difference.

Zip Water’s MicroPurity filtration filters down to 0.2 microns. That’s fine enough to reduce eight of the most harmful contaminants you can't see, smell or taste in your water, including microplastics, asbestos and lead – along with 99.4% removal of PFAS*. That means fewer contaminants, better taste, and real peace of mind.

But it’s not just what Zip Water takes out. It’s what we bring in.

A HydroTap gives instant access to pure-tasting chilled, boiling and even sparkling water from a single tap. No more waiting for kettles. No more fridge space lost to jugs or bottles. Just filtered water that’s ready when you are.

And because it’s fully integrated, there’s nothing extra sitting on your bench. Now doesn’t that bring calm back to your kitchen?

It’s not just easier. It’s built for the rhythm of your day.

Curious? See what’s possible with the Zip HydroTap range, or learn more about the benefits of sparkling water and how to boost your family’s health with filtered water.