I just simply do not get this at all. Why do people (a) pay for water which (at least in the US, with some exceptions) even unfiltered has quality parity with

I just simply do not get this at all. Why do people (a) pay for water which (at least in the US, with some exceptions) even unfiltered has quality parity with bottled water, and (b) not feel empathy for the damage they are causing with the single-use container? It sickens me every time I see people by cases of this stuff. AFAIAC, there should be at least a large tax or deposit charged for these bottles.