If you still pause at a waiter’s first question—“Is tap water okay?"—you’re not alone.  Most of the time, tap water is just as safe as bottled water, says Mae Wu, an attorney with the National Resources Defense Council who also works for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thanks to the rigorous standards imposed on tap water by public health organizations, bottled water is not necessarily any safer or cleaner than tap under normal circumstances. And the stuff out of the faucet comes without the added cost and waste buildup associated with bottled water, Wu says. In fact, one report from the non-profit Environmental Working Group found contamination levels in store-bought water that violated public water safety standards. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drink Poland Springs. Despite those few anecdotal reports, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations governing the quality of bottled water are “at least as stringent” as the EPA standards for tap water, explains Stephen Edberg, PhD, a professor of chemical engineering at Yale University. MORE: How To Stay Hydrated But bottles can be costly—for you and the environment—so here are 3 ways to make sure your tap water is up to par.

  1. CONSIDER YOUR ZIP CODEIf you live in a rural farming community, there’s a greater likelihood of contamination from pesticide runoff, Wu explains. To protect yourself, ask your local water authority to come test your water—a service they’ll likely perform for free, she says. The EPA’s website also offers water-monitoring resources. Big-city dwellers, you’re in luck: Wu says New York and San Francisco, among many other metropolises, have some of the cleanest water in the country. MORE: The Dangers of Drinking Too Much Water
  2. FIND OUT WHERE YOUR TAP DRAWS FROM Photo by Yagi/Getty IMages If your water is from a private well—which isn’t regulated—you could be at risk for chlorine and other volatile organic chemicals, Wu says. Or, if your home was built before the 1970s, it may house older lead-lined pipes, which could also throw off your water. In both cases, have your H2O tested, Wu advises. (If you own your home, you likely know where you water comes from. If you rent, ask your landlord.)
  3. CONSIDER A FILTERIf your water turns out to be contaminated, Wu says a filter from makers like ZeroWater or Brita will safeguard your supply for a fraction of the cost of bottled options. Your water report will highlight potential health risks, which—for the most part—can be fixed with a filter. Shop for one that specifically targets the contaminants in your H2O, she suggests. All filter makers list the contaminants their products remove. Remember, many bottled waters—Dasani and Aquafina, for example—are just filtered tap water. By filtering it yourself, you’re saving money, Wu says. IN SOME SITUATIONS, BOTTLED IS BEST"People receiving cancer chemotherapy—or those on medications for arthritis, HIV, and other conditions resulting in immunosuppression—are highly susceptible to even small amounts of some water contaminants,” Edberg says. Share your water report with your doctor, and if she suggests sticking to bottled, don’t assume a filter will offer you the same protections. The article “Which Is Better: Bottled Or Tap Water?” originally ran on Menshealthmag.com. MORE: The Fastest Way To Improve Your Mood