Bottled water companies make dubious claims to justify price: Choice.
CONSUMERS are being hung out to dry by trendy bottled water companies making murky claims about the healthiness of their products.
Some water bottlers insist their products contain higher levels of mineral salts than tap water to justify the expensive prices, while others say boosted levels of oxygen help mental and physical endurance.
An investigation by consumer advocacy group Choice has put a dampener on these claims, finding that bottled water is no safer or healthier to drink than water from the tap.
Sydney Water charges just $2 for 1000 litres of filtered water — a bargain when compared with about $3.50 for just 600ml of bottled water.
“Although industry research shows Australians believe bottled water is safer and tastier than tap water, beverage companies are only required to test their products once a year but tap water is tested regularly,” Choice spokeswoman Kate Browne said.
Australian Artesian Water claims its water is filled with healthy mineral salts which are rapidly absorbed into the body and assist with cleansing.
But Choice tested the fancy water and found that tap water contained more minerals.
“These claims are as thin as the air that comes out of the water once it’s extracted from the ground,” Ms Browne said.
Senior analyst Samuel Johnson said Sydneysiders buy bottled water for convenience: “Demand for convenience is anticipated to outweigh consumer concern surrounding the significant price premium.”