When asked to taste blind samples of tap water and bottled water, more than half of people rank tap water as better tasting or do not taste a difference between the two samples, according to more than 800 participants in a DC Water Taste Test Challenge Series.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) recently conducted a series of taste tests in each ward of the District and challenged people’s knowledge about tap water. During the series, many participants were surprised to learn that tap water tastes better than bottled water and also meets stricter standards. Only about half of participants were able to identify the correct sample as tap water.

“We provide safe and affordable water to nearly 18 million people a year, in a way that’s better for the environment than bottled water,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “But the taste test results illustrate something else we’ve known for years: it’s delicious.”

Despite a preference for tap water, more than half of people reported drinking bottled water at home.
This means people are spending at least 100 times more for bottled water when their tap water is only a penny per gallon. DC Water collects hundreds of samples each week to ensure the delivery of high quality tap water throughout the District.

DC Water is promoting tap water, protecting the environment and saving its customers money. Bottled water carries significant economic and environmental costs, while tap water is conveniently available at home and throughout the District as part of the TapIt network – www.tapitwater.com/dc.