With the cost-of-living crisis dominating the media in recent weeks, we’re all starting to feel the pinch. As a result, many of us are choosing to forego some of the more frivolous aspects of our lifestyles but is drinking bottled water that frivolous? Yes, it really is.

Think about it, until relatively recently, bottled water wasn’t even an option. It’s only in the last few decades that we’ve developed a taste for the supposedly “purer” and “healthier” bottled spring waters you now see lining supermarket shelves. Why? Effectively, very good marketing.

You see, bottled water is little more than a gimmick and a convenience (at best). And we’re here to tell you that, thanks to home water filters, you don’t have to shell out small fortunes on bottled water to keep your family safe and your drinking water clean. To underline the madness of bottled and canned water, we’ve collected a few of the main reasons why bottled water is so expensive and why you should probably stop buying it.

The materials

The materials used for drinking water bottles need to not only be secure enough to keep the water in but safe enough to allow people to drink from it. The plastic used needs to be safe and recyclable and that isn’t cheap. Indeed, when you pay for your bottle of water, you’re probably paying more for the bottle than for the water itself.

The design

In many regards, bottled water is something of a fashionable product and a large part of what makes it so desirable is the packaging. That fancy label and the design process behind it are going to cost a fair amount. You must factor in everything from the graphic designers to the printers and everyone in between.

The water

Sourcing the water might be a more complicated process than you’d think. Water is, after all, a limited resource and when you promote your water as “fresh spring water” you must make sure it actually is fresh spring water. The more desirable the source, the more the company is also going to have to pay to bottle it.

The advertising

Marketing bottled water is no different than marketing a soda drink, coffee or beer – it’s a process that sparks brand loyalty and turns a business into a brand. Marketing and advertising also cost a pretty penny, depending on the size and scale of the campaign and the various agencies behind the work. These are all costs that will eventually be passed on to the consumer. however, this might not apply if you only purchase generic own-brand bottled water.

Everything else

That’s only the beginning. There are the people employed to bottle the water, package it up and get it shipped across the country (or indeed the world) and the cost of transportation. Then you must factor in market value – what people are willing to pay. So, the more often you buy bottled water, the more expensive it will eventually become.

So, what’s the answer? Maybe turn on your tap and invest in a decent water filter. You’ll be amazed at the savings.