Is Great Value Purified Drinking Water safe? A Closer Look at Walmart's Bottled Water

December 15, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2021 study in Consumer Reports, bottled water labeled as “purified” contained significantly less PFAS than spring water products, a point of reassurance for consumers concerned about this contaminant. This makes it essential to understand the quality and safety standards behind popular, budget-friendly options like Walmart's Great Value.

Quick Summary

A detailed examination of Great Value Purified Drinking Water, including Walmart's supplier testing, purification methods, and regulatory compliance. The article also addresses potential contaminants, plastic concerns like microplastics, and contrasts it with tap and spring water.

Key Points

Purified Water Source: Great Value Purified Water is sourced from municipal tap water that undergoes extensive filtration.
Regulation and Testing: Walmart's suppliers test the water to meet or exceed FDA standards, with potentially stricter standards in California.
Potential Contaminants: While recent purified water reports are generally positive for PFAS, older reports have noted disinfection byproducts in related Walmart brands.
BPA-Free Plastic: The bottles are reportedly BPA-free, though microplastic concerns and leaching from plastic remain a general issue with all bottled water.
Added Minerals: Minerals are typically added back to the purified water for taste after purification, as indicated on the label.
Informed Consumer Choice: Great Value is an affordable, regulated option, but consumers must weigh its benefits against general concerns associated with bottled water and plastic packaging.

Understanding Purified Water

Before assessing Great Value specifically, it's vital to understand what "purified water" means. Unlike spring water, which comes from a natural underground source, purified water is typically sourced from municipal water supplies (i.e., tap water). It then undergoes a rigorous treatment process to remove contaminants, including chemicals, bacteria, and other impurities. This process makes the water compliant with safety standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After purification, minerals are often added back for taste, as indicated on the bottle's label.

The Purification Process for Great Value

For Great Value Purified Water, the process is handled by suppliers such as Niagara Bottling and Premium Waters. While proprietary, this process generally includes:

Deionization: A process that removes mineral salts and other ions from water.
Reverse Osmosis: Uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water.
Distillation: The process of boiling water and condensing the steam to leave contaminants behind.
Ozonation: Often used as a final disinfection step to prevent bacterial contamination after purification and before bottling.

Regulatory Standards and Walmart's Oversight

All bottled water sold in the U.S. must adhere to FDA regulations, which govern everything from source approval to manufacturing practices. Walmart states on its corporate website that its suppliers regularly test Great Value water to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. Notably, the company claims that standards for its bottled water sold in California significantly exceed FDA requirements. This public commitment to testing, and linking to supplier water quality reports, offers a degree of transparency not always found with store-brand products.

Past Contaminant Issues and Current Context

While Walmart claims high standards, some past reports have raised concerns. An Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigation from 2008 found that Walmart's Sam's Choice water contained disinfection byproducts (DBPs), specifically trihalomethanes (THMs), that exceeded both California state standards and bottled water industry guidelines, although levels were below the less stringent federal limits. These incidents, while dated, serve as a reminder that issues can arise and highlight the importance of consistent monitoring. More recently, reports have emerged about PFAS (forever chemicals) and microplastics in bottled water. Purified water, due to processes like reverse osmosis, generally shows significantly lower PFAS levels than spring water. However, the presence of microplastics can be a concern with any water stored in plastic bottles, especially if exposed to heat or reused.

The Plastic Bottle and Microplastic Concerns

Another significant aspect of bottled water safety is the container itself. The plastic used in Great Value bottles is reportedly BPA-free, addressing a common health concern. However, microplastics are a different issue. These tiny plastic particles can shed from the bottle into the water, and their health effects are still under investigation. Factors like heat exposure can accelerate this shedding process. For consumers concerned about microplastics, using glass or stainless steel reusable bottles is a viable alternative.

Comparison: Great Value Purified vs. Other Water Types


Feature	Great Value Purified Water	Typical Municipal Tap Water	Natural Spring Water
Source	Municipal water supply	Local reservoirs and treatment plants	Natural, protected underground spring
Processing	Extensive purification (RO, distillation, etc.), remineralization	Public treatment and disinfection (chlorination, etc.)	Minimal processing, primarily filtration at the source
Cost	Low	Very low	Varies; often higher than purified water
Mineral Content	Added minerals for taste	Varies by location	Varies; naturally occurring minerals
Contaminant Removal	High removal efficacy due to intensive purification	Effective removal, but potential for residual contaminants	Natural filtration, potential for natural contaminants
Plastic Risk	BPA-free bottles, but microplastic risk remains	None (if consumed from the tap)	Varies; bottled in plastic, so microplastic risk exists

Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision

So, is Great Value Purified Drinking Water safe? Based on regulatory standards and Walmart's public quality assurances, the product can generally be considered safe for consumption. The purification process removes many common contaminants, providing a reliable option for drinking water. However, safety depends on a consumer's specific concerns. Those worried about microplastics might prefer alternatives like filtered tap water or reusable bottles. Past reports of contaminants also underscore the importance of holding companies accountable for consistent quality. Ultimately, making an informed decision involves weighing the low cost and reliability of purified water against the potential for plastic-related issues and the occasional historical quality lapse. For more information, consumers can view quality reports on Walmart's Corporate Website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Purified water, including Great Value's, has undergone processes like reverse osmosis or distillation to remove contaminants and impurities, often starting from a municipal water source.

Great Value Purified Water often begins as municipal tap water, but it is then extensively filtered and treated to remove impurities, meeting FDA standards before it is bottled.

According to Reddit comments citing the supplier Niagara Bottling, the bottles used for Great Value water are BPA-free, which is not always advertised.

Water quality reports for Great Value water can be found on Walmart's corporate website under the "Water Quality Reports" section, where they link to their suppliers' data.

As purified water, it has had most minerals removed during filtration. It is unlikely to contain fluoride unless explicitly added back, unlike tap water.

While there was a recent recall for Ozark Trail insulated water bottles (also sold by Walmart), there have been no recent safety recalls specifically for Great Value Purified Drinking Water.

Microplastics are a concern with almost all bottled water, as plastic particles can shed into the water over time. While the bottle is BPA-free, microplastic risk remains, especially with heat exposure.

Purified water is a safe choice, but tap water quality varies widely. For those with good municipal water, filtered tap is often a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. Purified water can lack the beneficial minerals found in some tap and spring waters.