Is Walmart Bottled Water Just Tap Water?

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), approximately 64% of bottled water sold in the United States is sourced from municipal tap water. This raises a common question: Is Walmart bottled water just tap water? While some of their water starts from municipal sources, it undergoes a multi-stage purification process that sets it apart from a standard glass from the tap.

Quick Summary

An exploration into the sources and processing of Walmart's Great Value bottled water reveals it's not simply repackaged tap water. The article details the specific purification steps and compares its quality, cost, and environmental impact against standard tap water to provide a complete consumer overview.

Key Points

Source vs. Treatment: Walmart's Great Value purified water often originates from municipal sources but undergoes a multi-stage purification process that makes it different from standard tap water.
Purification Method: The process for Great Value purified water typically includes reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, and ozonation to remove impurities and micro-contaminants.
Distinction in Water Types: Great Value offers both purified water (heavily treated) and spring water (sourced from a protected spring with minimal processing), which have different taste profiles and mineral content.
Environmental and Financial Cost: Bottled water, including Walmart's, is far more expensive and has a much larger environmental footprint due to plastic bottle production and transportation.
Regulation Differences: Tap water is regulated by the EPA, while bottled water is regulated by the FDA. The regulatory standards and frequency of testing can differ, with tap water often having more stringent oversight.
Taste and Preference: The consistent, neutral taste of purified bottled water is a key reason many prefer it over tap water, which can have flavor variations based on source and treatment.

Unpacking the Great Value Water Sourcing

Walmart's bottled water, primarily sold under its Great Value brand, can have different origins depending on the product type and bottling location. For instance, some batches of Great Value purified water have been sourced from municipal supplies, including cities like Sacramento and Jackson, Mississippi. It is important to note that Walmart does not bottle its own water, but rather contracts with third-party suppliers like Niagara Bottling LLC to produce it.

The Purification Process: From Tap to Bottle

For a product to be labeled 'purified water,' it must go through a rigorous purification process mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The water, even if it originates from a municipal source, is treated extensively before being bottled. Walmart confirms that its Great Value purified water undergoes several advanced filtration and disinfection stages.

These processes can include:

Multimedia Filtration: The water passes through various layers of granular material to remove suspended particles and sediment.
Carbon Filtration: This stage targets and removes organic contaminants, chlorine, and other chemicals that can affect taste and odor.
Microfiltration: A highly precise filtration step that removes microscopic particles and pathogens.
Reverse Osmosis (RO): A key stage where water is forced through a semipermeable membrane, effectively removing up to 99% of dissolved solids, ions, and bacteria.
Ozonation and UV Light: These disinfection steps kill remaining microorganisms to ensure the water is microbiologically safe.

After this intensive process, some minerals are often added back to purified water for a consistent flavor, a step that is noted on some labels. This is a standard practice that explains why the water may not taste like a pure mineral-rich spring water, but also differs significantly from the raw taste of municipal tap water.

Great Value Purified vs. Spring Water

It's important to distinguish between Walmart's different bottled water offerings. While the standard Great Value purified water often comes from a municipal source, the Great Value spring water variety is sourced differently.

Purified Water: As detailed above, this starts from a variety of sources (including municipal) and is aggressively treated to remove impurities, often with minerals added back for taste. The flavor is consistent and neutral.
Spring Water: This must originate from a protected underground source that flows naturally to the surface. It undergoes minimal treatment to preserve its naturally occurring minerals, which give it a unique flavor profile based on its geographic origin.

A Closer Look at Safety and Quality Concerns

While bottled water is generally safe, it's not without scrutiny. A 2008 Environmental Working Group (EWG) study on multiple brands, including Walmart's Sam's Choice, found some concerning results, reporting contaminants that exceeded California's bottled water standards in some cases. These contaminants, such as disinfection byproducts (trihalomethanes), were linked to the purification of municipal water. It is important to remember this study is over a decade old and industry standards have evolved. Walmart, like all bottlers, is now subject to regular testing and must meet both federal and state regulations, which often exceed FDA standards.

The Cost and Environmental Impact

There is a significant difference in both cost and environmental impact between bottled and tap water. Bottled water is substantially more expensive, with estimates suggesting it can cost over 1,000 times more than tap water. A major contributing factor is the high environmental cost, which includes the energy used in producing plastic bottles, bottling the water, transportation, and refrigeration. A staggering number of these bottles end up in landfills or waterways, contributing to microplastic contamination.

Comparison: Walmart Bottled vs. Tap Water


Feature	Walmart Great Value Purified Water	Typical Municipal Tap Water
Source	Often from municipal or well water systems.	Surface water (rivers, lakes) or groundwater.
Purification	Multi-stage process including reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, and ozonation.	Standard municipal treatment (coagulation, filtration, disinfection with chlorine).
Regulation	Regulated by the FDA as a food product. Must meet specific standards based on its source.	Regulated by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Additives	Minerals are often added back for consistent flavor after purification.	Chlorine is added for disinfection and residual protection in pipes.
Taste	Clean, neutral, and consistent taste due to removal and re-addition of minerals.	Varies greatly by region; taste can be influenced by mineral content and chlorine.
Cost	Significantly more expensive per gallon.	Very inexpensive per gallon.
Environmental Impact	High due to plastic bottle production and transportation.	Minimal, utilizing existing infrastructure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the claim that Walmart bottled water is simply unfiltered tap water is a misconception. While its source may indeed be a municipal water supply, the key difference lies in the extensive multi-barrier purification process it undergoes, which includes reverse osmosis and carbon filtration. This treatment removes contaminants and results in a product that meets FDA standards for purified water. However, this convenience and highly processed nature come at a much higher financial and environmental cost compared to standard tap water. For consumers concerned about the quality of their local tap water, home filtration systems offer an affordable and environmentally friendlier alternative to relying solely on bottled water. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual priorities concerning taste, cost, convenience, and environmental responsibility.

Note: Information regarding water quality and regulations can change over time. It is always recommended to consult the latest water quality reports from both bottled water suppliers and local municipalities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Walmart's bottled water is generally safe to drink. It is purified to meet or exceed federal and state regulations for bottled water safety.

Walmart sources its Great Value water from multiple third-party bottling companies, like Niagara Bottling LLC. The water itself can come from various sources, including municipal water systems or protected underground springs, depending on the product type.

Great Value purified water starts from a common water source and is heavily filtered (via reverse osmosis, etc.), with minerals added back for taste. Spring water comes from a specific natural spring and is minimally treated to preserve its natural mineral content.

The taste difference comes from the treatment process. Purified bottled water has nearly all minerals and additives (like chlorine) removed, resulting in a cleaner, more neutral taste. Tap water's flavor varies based on its source and the disinfectants used.

No, drinking tap water is significantly more environmentally friendly. The production, transport, and disposal of single-use plastic bottles for bottled water create a large carbon footprint and contribute to plastic pollution.

Studies have shown that microplastics can be present in many brands of bottled water, including those in plastic bottles. While not exclusive to Walmart, the practice of bottling water in plastic is a known contributor to microplastic contamination.

If you are concerned about your local tap water, a home water filtration system is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. Options include filter pitchers, faucet-mounted filters, and under-sink systems.