Water is one of our basic elements here on Earth. It accounts for over 70 percent of the planet’s surface, and it makes up anywhere from 45 to 65 percent of the average adult human’s body. For this reason, it may seem like “water is water”—but there’s actually a huge variety of different types of water, and water standards differ across industries and contexts.
But what about basic drinking water? When it comes to water for your commercial space, is there a meaningful difference between choosing tap water, a water vending machine or bottled water? Believe it or not, there is. Read on to learn more about these differences so you’ll know what’s right for your establishment.
What’s the general makeup of tap water, vended water and bottled water?
It’s pretty hard to compare these three types of water in an apples-to-apples way, mainly because there isn’t much solid information out there about the average water vending machine. However, bottled water must meet two sets of standards: one set of quality standards established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which holds all packaged food products to certain guidelines, and a second set of standards put forth by the bottled water industry itself, which goes beyond what is required for FDA compliance.
Tap water, meanwhile, comes straight from the tap; it undergoes some filtering and treatment, but not to the same extent as either bottled water or mineral water.
How does their taste differ?
There’s a big difference between tap water, vended water and bottled water when it comes to taste. Filtering and treatment will strip water of some natural flavors, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for flavorless water. After all, the minerals in mineral water may make the taste a little less appealing for some people, but they also contribute to the overall flavor.
There are also taste benefits to working with a water dispenser company for vended water over choosing bottled water. One of the biggest complaints about bottled water is that it tends to lose its freshness after a while, becoming flat or even stale. Water vending machines, on the other hand, will keep your water tasting fresh and delicious.
What about cost?
In terms of convenience and price, tap water is definitely the cheapest option. It’s also easier to get larger volumes of tap water than it is to purchase vended water or bottled water. And while you can’t get true spring or mineral water at your local grocery store, it’s easy enough to find bottled water at a variety of locations.
The biggest selling point for vended water or bottled water is convenience. Finding a nearby vending machine or convenience store that sells bottled water can be as easy as opening your phone’s map app—and, as mentioned above, it’s easy to order larger batches of vended water or bottled water online.
The bottom line? It all comes down to your preferences. If you think bottled water may be a good option, consider the convenience factor and the filter life of the machine you’re looking at before you make a purchase. If you want to go for a more economical option that tastes great, check out the vended options.
Knowing the difference between tap water, vended water and bottled water is the first step. Once you understand how each one of these types of water is different, you can decide which option is right for you.
For more information about how working with a water dispenser company might benefit your business, reach out to Pure Water Technologies today.