Bottled vs. Tap

[DAY-DREAMER-MAN]

bottled water:thumbsup:

[Bulster]

Well, as water professional I can say for sure there many many cities in the US that have water you should not drink. This has nothing to do with taste as most things that actually pose a threat you cannot taste or smell.
In addition, two terms are typically used to state the accepted levels of contaminants in water: MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) and MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal). These terms differ greatly. The MCL is what the cities and counties across the US are allowed to get away with. This means that things like cost, practicality, financial feasibility etc are considered when it's time to spend money on water purification leaving your health a little ways down the list, especially when sometimes big business lobbying becomes a part of the game.
The MCLG is the level of contaminant at which some peoples health will be affected. This is the number you watch if you are concerned about your health but NOT the number that cities and counties have to adhere to.
Therefore, if you care enough, you need to find out what's in your city's water, or you'll not know your own situation. Or save the hassle and buy an inexpensive Reverse Osmosis purifier.

A couple of myths:

1. I boil my water so I'm safe.
Many many contaminants do not evaporate like water, especially the really bad ones. So all you are doing is increasing the percentage of contaminants in relation to the amount of pure water which is evaporating.

2. Britta filters work great.
Britta and similar faucet and fridge filters are 99% carbon based. This means they will remove most things that smell or taste bad. But, with the exception of some chemicals they do little or nothing to remove many contaminants that are bad for you.

By the way, I'm not a health freak and I got my share of bad eating habits, just figured I'd share the facts.

[Kenn]

Bluster that was a cool postostgood: The same bullshit is going on in Australia .We in south Australia were told this year that recycled sewerage was being pumped into our reservoirs to top them up. mmmm I feel like a glass of water..........NOT!.

[Smoke and Fly]

i drink nothing but bottled water but if there is non in the fridge then i just run the tap for a few minutes and drink tht. But my family in Ireland have there own well every so often they go up to if and fill a big drum full of this water from the well and i kno tht water doesnt have much of a taste but this water is beautiful

[OahuLocal]

Aquafina got into trouble for using tap water for years. I think thats the right company

[darkside]

growing up i had well water for tap that was delicious. it came from a pure underground spring. now i only drink bottled spring water (not dasani or aquafina because those are filtered tap water not spring water and still taste weird.) i cant stand that chlorinated fluorinated crap city water. makes me think im drinking out of a swimming pool.

[dean0000]

I think bottled water tastes better and will always buy some if im out in town. But if im in my house and just want a drink of water, tap is fine. I live in a part of England where the water isnt 'hard' so its all good.

[Bulster]

Just FYI: Water hardness has nothing to do with it being unhealthy, it simply represents how much Calcium/Magnesium is in your water and in most regards is actually good for you.

[RedLocks]

tap scares me, I don't even like to make iced tea with it

[MadSativa]

damn here in the US I just drink doesnt matter , but I like filter better than just strait tap, I hate to pay for water but when you have too you have too.