Is Tap Water Healthy? The Facts About Water Purity

Whether you're sitting at your kitchen table at home, working in the office or spending the day at school, staying properly hydrated is essential for maintaining your energy and concentration. Yet many people still have questions about the best way to stay hydrated. Is tap water healthy enough to drink every day, or is bottled water the better choice?

In Belgium and Flanders, tap water is among the most strictly regulated food products available. Even so, many people still ask: Is tap water really healthy? What exactly does it contain? How is it purified? And how can you further enhance its taste and quality? We take a closer look at the scientific facts.

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Is tap water healthy?

Yes. Drinking tap water is healthy, safe and sustainable.

Rich in minerals: Tap water naturally contains essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which your body needs every day.
Strictly monitored: Water suppliers (such as AquaFlanders) continuously test tap water against dozens of parameters to ensure its microbiological safety.
Free from plastic packaging: Unlike bottled water, fresh tap water is not exposed to microplastics that may be released from ageing PET bottles.
Easy to refine for an even better taste: With a professional water filter or a home drinking water tap, you can remove any chlorine taste or impurities from the plumbing, resulting in an exceptionally pure drinking experience.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Belgium?

Belgian water suppliers use advanced purification techniques to transform groundwater and surface water into high-quality drinking water. Before it reaches your tap, the water must comply with more than 60 strict quality standards covering bacteria, chemical substances and heavy metals.

What should you be aware of?

In general, tap water is healthy and completely safe to drink from the moment it leaves the water treatment plant. However, there are two situations that deserve extra attention.

Old lead pipes: Homes or buildings constructed before 1970 may still contain lead plumbing. Lead can leach into drinking water and pose a health risk. In such cases, replacing the pipes or installing a dedicated filter is strongly recommended.
Water stagnation in the pipes: When water remains stagnant in the plumbing for several days—for example after a long holiday or the temporary closure of an office building—bacteria may multiply. Simply letting the tap run for a short time before use is usually sufficient.

What does tap water contain? Minerals and quality

Many people are surprised to learn that tap water is naturally rich in beneficial minerals. It is certainly not "dead" water but contains valuable nutrients, including:

Calcium & Magnesium – Essential for strong bones, healthy muscle function and a well-functioning nervous system.
Sodium & Potassium – Important for maintaining the body's fluid balance.
Bicarbonate – Helps neutralise acidity in the stomach and throughout the body.

Tap water vs bottled water: Which is healthier?

Many people assume bottled water is healthier simply because it comes in a sealed bottle. However, scientific research has shown that PET bottles can release microscopic plastic particles into the water. So when considering whether tap water is healthy, it is also worth taking the impact of packaging into account.

Want to know how bottled water compares to tap water? Read our article: Does bottled water contain more microplastics than tap water?

How is tap water purified and how can you improve its taste?

Although water suppliers thoroughly purify drinking water, they generally add a very small amount of chlorine to ensure the water remains free of bacteria while travelling through the extensive distribution network. As a result, freshly drawn tap water may occasionally have a slight chlorine smell or taste.

The solution: Fine filtration at the point of use

To make tap water not only safe but also exceptionally enjoyable to drink, a high-performance filter integrated into a water dispenser offers the ideal solution.

At AQUALEX, we use NSF-certified filtration technology. This preserves all the health benefits of tap water while effectively removing substances that may affect its taste and quality.

Activated carbon – Removes chlorine taste, unwanted odours and organic compounds directly at the tap.
Submicron membrane (0.2 μm) – Eliminates 99.999% (LOG5) of contaminants, including microplastics, rust particles and bacteria.
Agion technology – Actively prevents harmful bacteria from multiplying and traps them inside the filter, ensuring hygienic drinking water at all times.
Mineral retention – Beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium remain naturally present in the water.

With the touch of a button, you can enjoy chilled, still or sparkling water directly from your drinking water tap at home or in the office.

Pure water doesn't have to come from a plastic bottle

The idea that you need bottled water for a "pure" taste is outdated. Tap water is local, fresh and rigorously monitored. By refining it at the point of use with a high-quality filtration system, you combine the health benefits of mineral-rich water with the convenience and taste of premium table water—without the environmental or financial cost of bottled water..

The advantages and disadvantages of tap water: A comparison

Anyone comparing tap water with bottled water will quickly notice some clear differences. With AQUALEX filtration, tap water is strictly monitored, naturally rich in minerals and filtered down to 0.2 microns for an outstanding drinking experience. It is also available chilled, still or sparkling, straight from the tap.

Bottled water, on the other hand, may contain microplastics from its packaging. Its taste can vary depending on the brand and storage conditions, while transportation and packaging contribute to higher CO₂ emissions. In terms of convenience, filtered tap water also has a clear advantage: you always have access to fresh drinking water without carrying heavy bottles or managing empty containers.

Real-life experiences: What do hospitals, businesses and schools say?

The health benefits and reliability of locally filtered tap water are demonstrated every day by organisations from a wide range of sectors, including hospitals, businesses and schools.

1. UVC Brugmann: The ultimate proof in healthcare

In a medical environment, there is absolutely no room for bacteria or impurities. The fact that UVC Brugmann in Brussels has chosen AQUALEX tap water filtration is the strongest possible proof of its safety and purity.

For the hospital, filtration quality was one of the four key criteria in its decision to permanently switch to filtered tap water for patients and medical staff. If tap water, thanks to submicron filtration and Agion technology, can meet the strict hygiene standards required in a hospital, it is also a 100% safe choice for offices and schools.

Discover why UVC Brugmann chose medical-grade filtration quality.

2. Argenta: Health and hydration in the workplace

At Argenta, one of Belgium's leading banking and insurance groups, employee well-being is a top priority. To reduce waste while promoting healthier habits, the bank chose to install filtered drinking water systems.

Bart Leeman of Argenta explains:

“Thanks to the AQUALEX systems, tap water is filtered and chilled, ensuring it is always fresh and great-tasting. This decision reflects our commitment to the health and well-being of our employees. By making high-quality drinking water readily available, we encourage them to drink more water—a healthy habit that supports concentration and improves performance in the workplace.”

3. Sint-Rembert School Group: Water for a sharper mind

At the Sint-Rembert School Group, healthy habits are encouraged by making filtered tap water both appealing and easily accessible in student break areas.

Elke Van Nieuwenhuyse, who designed the visual finish of the AQUALEX units at Sint-Rembert, highlights the positive impact on students' well-being:

“Drinking water is essential for a sharp mind. Water gives you energy and stimulates creativity. It sparkles, refreshes and gets students moving—both physically and mentally.”

Discover the Sint-Rembert School Group customer story and learn how switching from plastic bottles to sustainable reusable water bottles is making a real difference.

Conclusion: Why drinking tap water is both healthy and a smart choice

The answer to the question "Is tap water healthy?" is a resounding yes. Belgian tap water is naturally subject to rigorous quality controls, is safe to drink and is rich in essential minerals.

By further refining your tap water with an advanced water filtration system, you can remove any unwanted tastes while enjoying perfectly chilled, still or sparkling water of exceptional purity every day.