Most people live under the impression that bottled water is safer and healthier than tap water, but things seem to be a lot different, according to a study carried by Washington D.C.-based Environmental Working Group on samples of several brands of bottled water.

What the study found live people disorientated, as they use to pay some 1,900 time more to drink bottled water because it’s safer, when in fact it’s not. The legal limit of trihalomethanes (TTHMs), (chlorine byproducts that have been linked to cancer), in bottled water is of 10 parts per billion (ppb) in California. The study found that Walmart’s Sam’s Choice contained 37 ppb TTHMs, while Giant’s Acadia contained 36 ppb TTHMs in Washington D.C. Wal-Mart owns 4,200 stores in the United States.

In addition to this, the same Walmart’s Sam’s Choice also contained 13 ppb bromodichloromethane, a carcinogen, which according to the California Cancer Safety Standard, should be of 2.5 ppb.

The environmental group’s research went even further and analyzed chemicals in eight other brands of bottled water and found 38 chemicals including bacteria, caffeine, the pain reliever acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic-making chemicals and the radioactive element strontium. Not all water samples contained 38 pollutants. The average number of pollutants per sample was of 8.

"Consumers can't trust that what's in the bottle is anything more than processed, pricey tap water," said Jane Houlihan of Environment Working Group.

The group announced it filed a suit to ensure Walmart will post a warning sign on its bottles that the water contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

The findings of the study are worrisome, as more Americans tend to drink bottled water because they think it’s safer. The number more than doubled since 1997. That means that more people are exposing themselves to risks associated with the chemicals found in that water. In order to avoid exposure, EWG said “consumers should drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water.” Apparently, a filter is not only cheaper but also an efficient way to avoid chemical-related illnesses.