'Raw Water' Trend May Not Be Safe

There's a new Silicon Valley-backed health craze popping up in some parts of the country: drinking unfiltered, untreated  "raw water."  Some stores are bottling natural spring water and selling it for as much as  $60 a pop .

But is it safe?

Proponents of the raw water  movement claim typical drinking water has the same bacteria and minerals you'd find in nature but also the chemicals and chlorine used to treat it.

They also point out the risk of contaminants in municipal water — like lead from corrosive pipes.

But experts say raw water could contain dangerous bacteria, viruses and parasites that could make you seriously sick.

SEE MORE: Flint Could Soon Lose Its State-Supplied Bottled Water Program The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues even  basic water treatment  methods and filtration can help stave off dangerous contaminants and that the chemicals used to treat the water are safe for consumption.

And even though treated municipal water can still become contaminated — as was the case in  Flint, Michigan  — it's probably better to be safe than sorry.