You can now buy bottled water from Paris

100% Parisian water at your fingertips? That’s what the Swiss company BE WTR is offering: bottled water, still or sparkling, directly sourced from the underground reserves of the French capital. Before the internet explodes, no, the bottled water does not come directly from the Seine, which had already caused a stir among Parisians due to its questionable water quality during the Olympic Games. In fact, it’s simply tap water. But what’s the point of buying it in a bottle? Mike Hecker, founder of BE WTR, explains that the goal is to “win over Parisians, offering local water with a very delicate and silky taste, environmentally friendly by providing water in fully circular glass bottles, bottled at a site in the heart of Paris.”

As for concerns about water pollution, Jonathan McNicol, general manager of BE WTR France, reassures by explaining that since the company filters a small amount of water, the water stays in contact with the purification system long enough for PFAS (the so-called forever chemicals) and any pesticide residues to be filtered out. The Lausanne-based brand also seeks to stand out through its sustainable approach, offering the shortest possible supply chain. Indeed, the water is filtered at its Parisian warehouse located in the 18th arrondissement before being bottled in glass bottles that can be reused up to 200 times, according to BE WTR.

The company hopes to sell to luxury hotels and restaurants interested in premium products that break the mold. It has invested one million euros in its Parisian site, capable of producing up to six million bottles per year, and counts several hospitality players among its first customers, including the Accor group in Paris. “We pay for our cubic meter of water like everyone else, and there is no additional tax for bottling this water,” notes Jonathan McNicol. However, this initiative is not without criticism. Mélisande Seyzériat, general coordinator of the association Zero Waste Paris, argues that there is a much simpler alternative to buying BE WTR bottles: “I don't know what they mean by 'silky water'. I think it's something aimed at people who have a lot of money. We're talking about Parisian water, so we already have it from the tap.”