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Sales Of Bottled Water Expected To Outpace Soda Sales This Year

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - For the first time ever, more people are expected to buy bottled water than soda this year.

The statistic of bottled water outperforming soda comes from Bloomberg's Euromonitor data, and people tell KYW Newsradio they're not surprised:

"I drink a lot of water. I think I can probably go through a case a day."

"Because bottled water tastes a little better than tap water."

"You can buy a case of water for like $2.50."

But why buy bottled water when you can get it so much cheaper from the tap?

"If it comes in a bottle, I know what's in the bottle. If I'm drinking out of the tap, I don't know what's in my water."

Perhaps the disaster in Flint has caused people to be suspicious, but this man tells KYW he's suspicious of the privatization of water:

"Bottling it, putting a logo or a stamp on it and saying 'here's our water, buy this,' for me, that's like ethics and it really comes down to a humanity component. If people really need water, let's get them that. Those are the things they need to survive so it makes me uncomfortable, basically."

Meanwhile, officials in Philadelphia say water here is safe. In a written statement they indicate aging water mains are replaced within the lifespan of the infrastructure.

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