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When my twins were born prematurely (common for twins) at 35 weeks, they unfortunately spent two weeks in the NICU before we had the opportunity to take them home. Instructions given to us upon discharge were to avoid bottled water for any supplemental formula feeding, and to instead use tap water due to potential bacterial overgrowth in bottled water.
I remember feeling slightly perplexed. I always thought bottled water must be safer…after all, it’s much more costly. How could tap water be safer for my newborn babies? So, I started to research this topic more, and found that indeed the advice I was given was appropriate.
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Let’s find out why tap water is often preferred over bottled by medical professionals..
Why Tap Is Better Than Bottled
1. Stricter Regulations: Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, and tap water by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The EPA has tighter restrictions and inspection regimens, while the FDA has a less stringent disclosure of consumer information. The FDA is not requiring disclosure of bottled water sources, treatment processes, and any contaminant reports. If your tap water source is public, however, the EPA is required to send an annual water quality report to its residents disclosing this information.
