Daily ritual of millions of Poles: a fast visit to the store for a cup of mineral water. It seems a small, almost unnoticeable expense. But have you always wondered how much this seemingly innocent habit costs you annually? In 2025, at rising prices and inflation, these amounts become truly alarming. The analysis is ruthless – regular buying of water in bottles is simply a financial trap that can reduce your budget by over PLN 2500 per year. It's money you virtually throw in the trash with an empty plastic bottle.
However, the problem does not end with the wallet. Each produced, transported and yet discarded PET bottle is simply a immense burden for our planet. At a time erstwhile environmental awareness becomes crucial, ignoring this aspect is shortsighted. Moreover, wellness issues related to microplastics that penetrate from the packaging into the water that we drink are increasingly discussed. In this article, we will conduct a detailed cost analysis, compare the quality of bottled water with a popular "cranette" and present smart, inexpensive alternatives that will aid you regain control of your finances and take care of the environment.
Shocking mathematics: Water from tap vs. bottled water in 2025
Numbers don't lie. Prepare for hard data that can change your perception of regular shopping. say you drink about 2 liters of water a day as recommended. That's 730 liters a year.
Cost of bottled water: In 2025 the average price of popular mineral water in a 1.5 litre bottle is about PLN 2,50. To meet your yearly demand, you request about 487 specified bottles. Simple bill: 487 bottles x PLN 2,50 = PLN 1217.50 per individual per year. If there are 2 adults in your household, this amount increases to PLN 2435. What if you have children? The costs are excavating immediately.
Cost of tap water: Now look at the alternative. The average price for 1 cubic metre (i.e. 1000 litres) of water from waterworks in Poland in 2025 is about PLN 12 (including the sewage charge). Your yearly request (730 litres) will cost you... less than 9 zlotys! Yeah, it's not a mistake. Comparing these 2 amounts, bottled water is more than 135 times more expensive from excellent water quality available in your tap.
The difference per year for a two-man household is over 2,400 PLN. This is the amount for which you can finance a short vacation, buy fresh electronic equipment or simply fund your savings. By continuing your habit of buying water, you consciously quit that money.
The story of “better” water. Why do we inactive trust bottles?
If the difference in price is so colossal, why are we inactive reaching for water in plastic? The answer lies in the power of marketing and established over the years myths. Producers spend millions on advertising campaigns that build the image of bottled water as crystal clear, healthy and from virgin sources. The view of mountain streams on the description is to convince us of its uniqueness.
The fact is, however, that the Polish “kranówka” in most cities is not only completely safe, but besides rich in minerals specified as calcium and magnesium. It is subject to much stricter and more frequent controls than bottled water. The State Sanitary Inspection (Sanepid) regularly examines its composition, ensuring that it complies with stringent EU and national standards. In many cases, tap water has a mineral composition comparable or even better than many spring water sold in stores.
Smart alternatives that will relieve your wallet and planet
Getting convinced to drink tap water is the first step. However, if you are afraid about its taste, the odor of chlorine (which is the guarantor of its microbiological purity) or the condition of the pipes in your building, there are simple and inexpensive solutions that will resolve your doubts:
- Filter jar: This is the most popular and very effective solution. The cost of the pitcher is about 50-80 PLN, and the monthly cost of the exchange filter is about 15-20 PLN. yearly expenditure is about PLN 240. Compared to PLN 1217 for bottled water, saving is inactive gigantic. The filter effectively removes chlorine, dense metals and improves the taste of water.
- Filter bottle: perfect option for active people. Allows the bottle to be filled with water from the tap anywhere – at work, at the gym or on the road. The cost of the bottle with the first filter is about PLN 40-60 and the replacement of the cartridge all period is simply a cost of PLN 15.
- Filters mounted on the faucet or under the sink: This is simply a more advanced and somewhat more costly first investment, but in the years most profitable and comfortable. It provides constant access to filtered water from the tap.
Hidden Cost of Plastic: Environmental Impact and Your Health
Financial savings are only 1 side of the medal. all year Poles usage billions of plastic bottles, of which only a tiny part is recycled. The production of 1 PET bottle requires water and oil consumption, and its transport generates a immense carbon footprint. By choosing the “tranker”, you make a real, ecological change.
More and more investigation besides points to the problem microplastic. These particles can penetrate from PET bottles into water, especially erstwhile stored in heat or exposed to the sun. Although the long-term impact of microplastic on human wellness is inactive being investigated, preliminary results are worrying. Giving up bottled water is simply a simple way to limit vulnerability to these possibly harmful substances. The choice is simpler than you think. It is simply a decision that brings a triple benefit: for your wallet, for the planet and for your health. Time to halt overpaying for a habit that costs us all besides much.
Read more:
A habit worth PLN 2,500 a year. You're losing so much by buying bottled water in 2025!
