Why do more Americans drink water from bottles than the faucet?
That was the question Tamarac High School teacher Andrew Welkley asked his science classes this year as part of a unit on energy.
When students answered that bottled water tasted better, Mr. Welkley challenged the assumption with a blind taste test.
Aided by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate student Allycia Gariepy, who is serving as a fellow in Mr. Welkley’s class this year, students were provided with samples of water in cups.
Students evaluated the taste of the water and then recorded their observations. The class compiled their answers and was surprised to learn that tap water was widely considered to taste as good – or in some cases better – than bottled water.
“What are these results telling us?” asked Mr. Welkley.
“That water is water,” a student replied.
Mr. Welkley explained the class project was a way to engage students to think about energy and the way it is used. He noted plastic bottles are made from petroleum and the bottling process and transportation of bottled water uses energy as well.
Mr. Welkley also taught students about the origins of bottled water. He noted that as major beverage companies saw their sales of soda decline, they looked for another product to sell. Because the cost of water from the faucet is so much cheaper, beverage companies used extensive marketing campaigns to convince consumers that bottled water tastes better.
However, a number of water taste tests done by municipalities have shown that people often prefer municipal water over bottled water in blind tests.
