Bottled Water

Moves to ban the sale of commercially-bottled water in some parts of New South Wales has attracted recent media attention.

The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends water as the best drink. It contains no kilojoules and is the best fluid for hydrating the body. Water (bottled or tap) is a better choice than other drinks that are high in sugar and kilojoules.

As Australia has a good, safe water supply - tap water is an excellent option.

If on the rare occasion tap water is unsafe, bottled water is a good alternative. But in this case the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) would like to see efforts focus on improving the water supply in these areas. In terms of environmental sustainability, DAA does not believe bottling water is good practice when we have a safe water supply in Australia.

Bottled water is a healthy option, particularly when tap water is not available, convenient or safe. And bottled water is a better choice than other ‘packaged’ drinks. When eating away from home, DAA recommends taking a reusable water bottle from home, or asking for tap water.