Some statistics regarding quality of water (other natural resources or artificial pollution too)
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/personal...s-in-the-world

I don't like plastic bottles but they are practical, especially when you travel or away from home. Freezing or boiling the water might help, but who stays to do it all the time? In a way we have to get used with the tap water.. although my child was very ill from a bacteria taken from it, we went on getting used with it. Of course, if I would know there is a problem with the tap water I would prefer bottled one.