Although bottled water is often tastier and sometimes more convenient, the truth is your faucet probably has cleaner water. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that municipal tap water be screened for more than 80 contaminants, something not required of bottled water or of tap water from a home owner's well. Plus, most municipal water has fluoride to prevent tooth decay; bottled water usually doesn't.

Test your water. If it tastes sweet, salty, or slightly metallic, send for the Water Awareness Kit ($5, www.wqa.org). The kit tests water for chlorine, minerals, nitrates, and iron and then tells you what to do. If you're concerned that your water is contaminated, call your water company. It can recommend a lab where you can have a more comprehensive test performed.