WHEN you stand them side-by-side, there's no way for the naked eye to tell the difference between a bottle of tap water and a £1.50 bottle of mineral water bought in a shop.
The difference, therefore, must surely be in the taste?
A survey carried out by water company Severn Trent said that after a taste test, 70 per cent of shoppers in the Victoria Centre preferred tap water to bottled.
However, when the Post carried out its own taste test in the city centre we found the opposite, with 73 per cent of people preferring the taste of bottled water to tap.
But many were unsure to begin with which sample was which and had to think about their decision.
Emily Glover, 22, from the city centre, drinks two litres of bottled water a day. She got the taste test right.
She said: "I really don't like tap water. It just has a funny taste to it. I drink at least two litres of bottled water a day.
"People make a big deal out of types of water and which to pick, but I know the type I like and I just stick to that."
One of the strongest advocates of bottled water was 29-year-old Jason White of Radford.
He said: "I go for bottled all the time. It just tastes fresher and I don't mind paying for it. With tap water you have to run it until it is clear and cool, and even then I boil it and let it cool before I drink it."
Roxanne Preston, 28, of Canning Circus also got the taste test right.
She was one of the few (eight per cent) in our survey of 30 people that said she preferred the tap water to bottled water in the blind tasting.
She said: "I know that is tap water and that is bottled, I can just tell. I like tap water. I bottle it up and keep it in the fridge. Bottled water is good if I am out and about and thirsty. As long as you're getting enough water each day I don't think it matters."
Some experts claim that bottled water is more dangerous because it does not undergo the stringent daily tests which our tap water does.
Others argue tap water is more dangerous due to it containing fluoride.
Science aside, our taste test revealed the opposite of Severn Trent's, suggesting that there is probably less difference in the taste of bottled water to tap water than some may imagine.
Speaking about the results of Severn Trent's survey Rob Salmon, of Severn Trent Water, said: "We're really pleased with this result as we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best."
The opinions given will help shape the company's next business plan for 2015-2020, which will outline the future of Severn Trent's water services.
