Navigating the Waters - Is Bottled Water Really Better for Us Than Tap Water?

Name: Bridgford & Bingham Nutrition
Address: Brickyard Ln, East Bridgford, Nottingham, NG13 8NJ, GB
Telephone: 07958 765337
Price range: £

Nina Thomas
11 minutes ago
3 min read

Water doesn’t just quench thirst. It’s the quiet workhorse behind energy, digestion, hormone balance, and even mental focus. Without enough of it, the body simply can’t perform at its best—no matter how clean our diet or how dedicated our gym routine.

As a nation of tea drinkers, gym-goers and reusable-bottle carriers, we in the UK think a lot about hydration—but not always about what’s actually in the water we drink.

Tap water in the UK is held to strict quality standards and is regularly tested for safety, mineral balance, and cleanliness. Nutritionally, tap water generally contains small amounts of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. In some UK regions, fluoride is also added to tap water—a practice shown to help reduce tooth decay, especially in children. While some debate remains, scientific and public health bodies widely recognise fluoridation as safe and beneficial for dental health.

Filtered water sits somewhere between tap and bottled water. Household filters—whether jug filters or plumbed-in systems—primarily improve taste and remove impurities such as chlorine, microplastics, or limescale. Most filters don’t significantly alter the nutritional profile, although some advanced systems can remove both contaminants and beneficial minerals. In those cases, remineralisation cartridges may be added to restore balance.

Bottled water, on the other hand, can vary widely. Standard bottled water may simply be filtered tap water, offering no nutritional advantage. Spring water comes from natural underground sources and must be bottled at the source. Its mineral content depends on the local geology, but while levels may be slightly higher than tap water, the difference is rarely nutritionally significant for most of us.

Mineral water is the one category where we’ll see a clearer distinction. Legally required to contain a consistent level of naturally occurring minerals, it can be richer in magnesium, calcium, and bicarbonates compared with both tap and spring water. On a side note it is the bicarbonates that gives mineral water its distinctive taste. For individuals with specific dietary needs—for example, low magnesium intake—mineral water may offer small added benefits.

When it comes to choosing what we drink every day, water seems like the simplest decision—yet the bottled vs. tap debate continues. So, is bottled water better for us? There is some thought that some of these minerals – like calcium and magnesium – are of course essential to our physiology, giving some bottled water a small health benefit. However, some tap water has just as many minerals as some bottled mineral and spring waters, and in some parts of the UK, we further boost by adding fluoride to tap water to aid dental health. Though if we are eating a good, balanced diet, we will be getting all the minerals we need regardless of the water we drink. Nutritionally speaking, the differences may be smaller than many think. Ultimately, the healthiest choice is often the simplest: whichever clean, safe water encourages us to stay hydrated every day.

If we are experiencing sluggishness, bloating, lack of focus, or a decrease in performance, it is important not to solely examine our diet or activity. We may be wise to begin by evaluating our hydration levels regardless of the bottle or glass we drink it from.

Just add water—our gut, brain, hormones, and entire system will thank us.

If you would like help achieving your optimum nutrition, please come and see me at Bridgford & Bingham Nutrition.

Happy eating,

Nina Thomas

BSc (Hons), MSc, ANutr

Registered Associate Nutritionist & Food Scientist