People tend to have low bars when it comes to what to expect from their drinking water. But it shouldn’t be that way. There’s a reason why people from New York swear that their tap water is the best in the world. There’s also a reason why we buy billions (literally) of bottles of water every year. But isn’t filtered water just as good? We’re here to tell you why it’s not just as good. It’s better!

1. Environmental impact – Drinking water filtration systems produce less plastic waste than bottled water, reducing the negative impact on the environment. Indeed, it’s estimated that 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK every year. That’s roughly a plastic bottle for every human being on earth and all that plastic must end up somewhere! Bottled water also requires energy to produce, transport and refrigerate, while a filtration system uses far less energy.

2. Cost-effective – The average person should be consuming around 4 litres of water a day. That’s around 8 small bottles of water and those costs add up fast. Over time, a drinking water filtration system will cost far less than purchasing bottled water every week. The initial cost might be quite hefty, but the eventual savings make it more than worthwhile.

3. Convenience – With a water filtration system, you can enjoy clean, filtered water on demand without having to worry about running out of bottled water. It’s literally on tap. You also don’t need to waste time pouring it into a filtering jug or boiling it to get rid of the impurities.

4. Better taste – A filtration system can improve the taste of tap water, which can often have a chlorine or overtly mineral taste due to the processing it goes to on the way from the reservoir to your home.

5. Health benefits – Decent water filters remove harmful contaminants such as lead, dissolved solids, heavy metals, and other organic bacteria that may be present in small amounts in your bottled water, making it healthier and safer to drink. This is a particular benefit if you have young children in the house.

6. Consistency – Water filtration systems provide a consistent quality of water, whereas the quality of bottled water can vary depending on the brand. There is a reason, after all, that you pay significantly more for a bottle of Evian water than for supermarket own-brand water. With a water filter, you also have more control over the quality of the water you drink and can be assured that it meets your family’s exacting standards.

7. Space saving – A filtration system can be installed under a sink or in a refrigerator, freeing up valuable counter or fridge space. Bottled water, meanwhile, can take up entire cupboards in your kitchen if you rely on them 100% for your drinking water.

8. No expiration date – Good, bottled water might last, at best, for a couple of years. After that time has passed, it could be unsafe to drink. At the very least, it’ll probably have a funky taste. With a water filter, however, there’s no chance of your water going past its expiration date.

9. Trust – You can never trust 100% that the water in that bottle is legitimately sourced from “mountain springs” or glaciers. There is no regulation that bottled water has to be lab tested either. So, while bottled water is likely to be safe you can never be sure. Indeed, there have been stories in the past of brands having to recall bottles due to contamination issues.

10. Promoting sustainability – Drinking water filters promote sustainability by reducing plastic waste, energy use, and transportation emissions associated with bottled water. And isn’t it nice to be the one that leads by example sometimes?