Drinking Water in Cayman - 8 Reasons To Choose Tap!

All of the tap water we get on-Island is desalinated seawater produced using reverse osmosis. The process begins with the extraction of raw feed water from wells drilled deep into the limestone bedrock beneath Cayman. This water is pristine seawater with none of the contaminants usually associated with open seawater sources.

The salt from the seawater is then removed using reverse osmosis – a filtration process which uses pressure to force seawater through a membrane, retaining the salt and other contaminants on one side and allowing the pure water to pass through to the other side. The fresh water is then finished in the post-treatment process to produce potable water that is ready to drink.

Not only is the tap water safe to drink but it is also preferable to bottled water for a number of reasons. From its minimal environmental impact to its lack of plastic use and it being generally cheaper, below we list all the reasons you should stick to tap!

The tap water is regularly tested and you can rest assured knowing it is safe and pure. All the chemicals used in the filtration process are National Sanitary Foundation approved for potable water and the resulting tap water always meets World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for drinking water.

Tap water is successfully transported to your home with little environmental impact other than the water you take from nature. Whereas the energy used for manufacturing, filling, shipping and keeping water bottles cool, is extensive. Not to mention the energy used in the process of effectively recycling the plastic.

A 2009 Pacific Institute report, published in the Environmental Research Letters journal, concluded that across its entire life-cycle, bottled water takes anywhere from 1,100 to 2,000 times as much energy to produce as tap water. The same report estimated that water bottles have a carbon footprint equal to more than half a million passenger vehicles!

By replacing water bottles with tap water you can be assured you are minimising the environmental impact of your water consumption.

Tap water is free from plastic and the toxic chemicals they harbour.

Most plastic water bottles are made from a kind of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. Manufacturing this plastic produces a variety of toxic chemicals in the air which even leach out over time into the water inside – a process which is sped up through heat exposure. When PET is not recycled and ends up getting burned in the landfill it releases more toxic chemicals such as dioxin.

And, when they don’t make it into recycling bins or the landfill, many discarded plastic bottles eventually end up in the oceans, where they can prove deadly to fish, turtles, and other creatures that swallow them.

Drinking filtered tap water instead of buying bottles means less plastic usage, and less pollution in our oceans!

In most places constantly purchasing bottled water is more expensive than using tap water, but with the high prices of groceries in Cayman the difference is even greater. Making the switch to tap makes practical financial sense as well as making you feel good about being green!

As being environmentally considerate becomes increasingly popular, reusable water bottles have become the most sought-after modern accessory. This new accessory is a way of expressing your individuality, style and your dedication to going green. But most significantly, it is a useful way to drink tap water wherever you are and reuse the container again and again. Pick one up from Fosters, Kirks or Funky Monkey.

Research using blind tests consistently reveals that most people cannot taste the difference between bottled water and tap water. But for those who still notice a difference, it is easy to spruce up your glass of cold water with a slice of lemon or lime. Or go a step further and use a water filter jug for that crisp, natural taste.

Your tap provides unlimited fresh water whenever you need it, whether for drinking, cooking, making tea, or watering plants. You don’t have to take a trip to the supermarket for water – just walk over to the nearest tap and pour yourself a glass.

In the Caribbean sun plastic water bottles don’t stay cool for long. However water from the top is cool and refreshing and storing it in an insulated water bottle such as a Hydroflask, S’well or Yeti will naturally keep your water crispy cool for hours.