Bottled water is supposed to be healthier than our tap water, but is it? Water treatment plants across America do an incredible job of storing, cleaning and distributing water to our homes. But that doesn’t mean it is without problems. Due to concerns over pharmaceutical, pesticide or toxin contamination in municipal water, many people choose bottled water over tap water. But bottled water isn’t perfect.

There are two distinct kinds of bottled water: Bottled water that is repurposed municipal water and bottled water that comes from a natural spring. Bottled water coming from municipal sources is purchased from a city’s municipal supply, cleaned and bottled by manufacturers. This type of bottled water can certainly contain some contaminants.

Natural spring bottled water comes from a naturally occurring source, like a spring located underground. This is the kind of bottled water you want to look for because it tends to come from remote areas or protected land. It also usually contains natural and healthy trace minerals and elements like calcium and potassium. Natural spring bottled water isn’t necessarily 100 percent pure, but it is less likely to have been contaminated by anything man-made.

There is no record anywhere of anyone dying from bottled water – even in rare cases in which bottled water contains some form of contamination. Unfortunately, the same is not true with municipal water.

However, consumers should be aware that the chemicals used in plastics can indeed leach into bottled water over time. Bottled water should be stored in a cool, dry place. Avoid exposing bottled water to extreme heat fluctuations, such as by leaving it in your car on hot summer days.