In the US it's basically up to your taste buds; in fact tap water in many areas has been shown to superior to some bottled waters. And much of the bottle water we purchase came from the tap - someone just bottled it and put it up for sale. At one time most Americans got their water only from the tap. Whether bottled water is better than tap water, and justifies its expense, remains unclear depending on your regional supply of tap water. All this considered, if you find that your tap water in your neighborhood does not live up to your tastes, bottled water, and there are certainly many to choose from, can be a great alternative.