In most places in the U.S., water is free, safe to drink and widely accessible. And yet, society has still figured out a way to make us spend on this essential resource — by selling us pricey bottled water. According to new research from WaterFilterGuru.com, a 16.9-fluid-ounce bottled water averages $1.60 in the U.S. And you could spend a lot more — some brands, like Voss, retail their products at much higher prices.
Bottled water brands often flaunt concepts of exoticism and rarity. But there’s no evidence that bottled water is better than tap water; in fact, research has shown there’s no measurable difference between the two. Add to the scenario the fact that bottled water is bad for the environment, and it becomes even more absurd to think that we’re buying it.
Intriguingly, how much you’re spending on this liquid luxury varies by state. In a new study, WaterFilterGuru.com broke down how much every state spends on bottled water — both still and sparkling. It may come as a surprise that in most states, sparkling water is cheaper than still water.