Water straight from the tap ranked among the best quality for drinking when compared to market leaders like Pump and Mount Franklin (stock photo) It also had a PH balance of seven – neutral – where any number below is considered too acidic and potentially harmful for teeth enamel.
Tests found three popular bottled waters, Mount Franklin, Mount Franklin lightly sparkling and Pump contained below safe levels of PH, respectively 4.8, 3.7 and 4.6.
Water bottles are classified as a food product and therefore exempt from regulations and tests which ensure tap water is safe to drink.
Tests found three popular brands, Mount Franklin, Mount Franklin lightly sparkling and Pump contained below safe levels of PH, respectively 4.8, 3.7 and 4.6 (pictured) Water scientist Dr Fred Leusch said its labeling ‘pure, safe, Australian water’ was nothing more than acknowledgement that tap water was safe for drinking.
‘In the end, I reckon when you’re buying this, most of the cost is the plastic container.
What’s inside is just worth 0.1 of a cent.’
When it came to mineral content, calcium and magnesium, tap water had the highest concentration out of all brands, except Fiji (pictured) On the lowest end of the spectrum was Pump with 7.4, followed by the two Mount Franklin bottles, then Natures Best with an unsurprisingly similar amount to the tap.
Dr Leusch said it was virtually impossible to completely avoid fluoride, given it was evident in even the purest form of water.
He added people should be cautious not to fall for market ‘gimmicks’ used to persuade them into buying things they don’t truly need.
‘All our water is eventually from the same place, it’s a closed cycle.