2 Why do people pay for bottled water when it is so much more expensive than tap water? Economic Enigma 1 Step 1: Carefully consider the economic data below. After analyzing the graphs, table, and photograph, identify the economic enigma you think these data lead to. 4 water bottles and faucet filling a 1-gallon jug Relative Cost What you Sources of Bottled Water Sold in the United States get for $10 or x 1,000 Filtered tap water 1 gallon of bottled water (about 4 liters) 1,000 gallons of tap water (about 5.5 years' worth) 53 Spring water Bottled Water Consumption, 1990-2010 Consumed​