we have some of the cleanest, best tasting tap water...
i was recently in thailand: since the tap water isn't potable, you can bring a bottle back to refilling station. but in neighboring laos, cambodia and vietnam, the poorer countries, these stations didn't exist. everyone just buys and discards. at least plastic collection (for the deposit money) keeps alot of it out of the water...
I read through the article, and I appreciate the logic, but there are some exceptions to be made for bottled water -
For instance, at my office, we play basketball at a court were there is limited access to drinking fountains, which have no filter to remove the taste, as well as give us a "higher quality" of water (see references above about legal limits of pesticides, hormones, chemicals, and healthy limits). Not saying that all bottled water is better than tap water, nor that all bottled water was created equal, but if it makes the consumer feel better about consuming it, than that's their issue.
Additionally, as the commenter from New Jersey stated, America does have the infrastructure, but not all of the infrastructure is that modern, and indeed some of it is less than stellar.
*Americans are paying for clean potable water through our taxes anyway. Might as well enjoy it.
*Check the source of the water on the bottle's label. I have seen some that state in small lettering that it's essentially tap water.
*Even if it's not tap water, it's certainly not from fiji or whatever glorious paradise the name or pictures conjure. That much is quite clear from just reading the label.
*The FDA monitors bottled water sold over state lines. That is, if it's not crossing state lines it is NOT regulated by the FDA.
*The EPA regulates tap water. As something that the government provides to nearly all of its citizens, the regulations have been much stricter than bottled water sold to consumers.
*I have never seen glass-bottled water in America. All those plastic bottles are incredibly wasteful when the water is already flowing directly into your kitchen for your convenience.
*Of course, there are occassions where bottled water might be a good solution (out on a hike, traveling, etc) but it generally just seems like a bad idea if your tap water is more closely monitored so as to be potable. (And in the US, it is.)
I don't get this comments about how nasty tap water is. If the water has a few chemichals in it and tastes funny, just buy a good filter. We've always done that in my family and our filtered water tastes totally fine.
I think you bring up some excellent points. While it's true, as someone else noted, that soda, beer, and the like also come in bottles which require time and energy and produce, a soda or beer bottle is, if you will, almost a necessary evil. That is to say, there is almost no other way no drink those. The vast majority of people do not install soda fountains or beer taps in their homes (although I'd sure like to). Water, on the other hand, IS readily available, WITHOUT packaging. So, to add packaging to a product which doesn't require it, yes, that does create quite a bit of un-needed waste. I've never really looked at it that way before. Thanks for the insight. PS: I live in NJ as well. I don't really mind the tap water all that much, but yeah, purified water undeniably tastes better. That's why I bought a Brita pitcher. As with so many problems, "bad water" also has multiple solutions. The first answer to come to mind isn't always the best one, and it's almost never the only one.
Thanks for the excellent tips. I wish I had thought to have friends scruntinize my apartment when I first moved in, but that was 4 years ago, so it's WAAY too late now. These are definitely tips I'll keep in mind for next time though. -click- There we go. Bookmarked.
In terms of sharing past experiences for the benefit of all, the leasing company who owned the last building I lived in was Hekemian. I don't know how large they are or how many buildings they own. But, if you're going to live in NJ in one of their buildings, you shouldn't worry. My roommate and I threw parties in that apartment almost every weekend. When we left, it was pretty filthy. I fully expected them to keep my entire deposit. They only kept $300, which, trust me, was entirely fair. So, yeah. Hekemian. Decent people.
Lewis Black actually did a stand up routine with a chunk of it dedicated to this subject, very funny. I live in Chicago where the water is top rated in the nation, but I too buy bottled water, and feel guilty about it.
The bottling companies don't have the same quality standards as municipalities do so the bacteria levels can often be higher then from the tap. The taste may not be the same, but now we have britta and pur water filters so there is really no excuse to buy a plastic sport/camping water bottle and refill it.
To people in China,
Don't feel too bad. Our water here in the US isn't any better. It is usually "safe", but that is only because they dump so much chlorine into it. In many areas, the water is "hard" and they add additional chemicals to make it "softer". The tap water people claim you can't taste the difference. I know I certainly can.
I avoid buying water in small containers, but that is about all I really can do. Tap water tastes horrible and I don't see why I should be forced to eat and drink things I don't like.
I agree with one of the earlier comments, I buy bottled water because I live in a big city and I am sure it's filled with low concentrations of sewage and hormones and crap. You want to know why male sperm counts are down? I would start by investigating all the female hormones in the drinking water.
Drinking bottled water is better then drinking coke, beer, or anything else in a can or bottle.
Everything you say about water also applies to every drink that comes in a bottle except those drinks take even more processing and consume even more resources.
What kind a stupid idiot are you that you can't figure that out?
Always remember that if you keep your mouth shut people might think you are an idiot, but when you open it and say something colossally stupid then everybody knows you are an idiot.
dude, i'm from new jersey. we pretty much invented cancer. anyone from jersey will tell you: you can't drink the water here. yeah, it doesn't taste that bad, i drink it sometimes, i make coffee out of it, it tastes like chlorine, but it's OK tasting. but it's what you don't taste that'll get you. plus the pipes are really old here.
What the article does not mention is that the tap water often contains a fair amount of pesticides, antibiotics ect, which although below the legal concentrations, are not without risk : cancer, hormone imbalance and other diseases. The legal limits of these pesticides are often higher than they should be thanks to the agricultural lobby. If I know the water in my area is pure, that is taped from an unpolluted source then I am happy to drink it. But drinking water taken from watersheds where industrial agriculture takes place, or in big cities where water is recycled many times and various drugs people take are concentrated is best avoided.
In Paris area the plastic water bottles are recycled.
What I found so useful about the list is that it is state specific as well as country. I have done a lot of shopping using the list and have come across some real gem items. The best thing is a little bit of haggling can be done over the price.
Thanks
Terry Psychic ability
I totally aggree, that the transportation creates a lot of pollution, however, you disregard that water may be bottled in glas bottles which are refilled after use. At least, thats how it is over here in Germany. Most of the water here is sold in glas bottles. You pay a deposit of about 25 Eurocent for each bottle (and a couple of Euros for the case). This deposit is returned to you, after returning the bottles to the store...
One more Point to your case:
In Germany (and I'd guess in most western cuntries), tab-water has much higher standards than mineral water. There are several Mineralwaters around, that would not be allowed as tab-water.
Unfortunately, the water that is piped into our homes in Hong Kong not only tastes bad, at times it smells bad and is discloured.
Yup. That's why the article is actually about Americans. I've lived in China - and I wouldn't drink the water there without boiling and filtering the hell out of it.
Hmm, gripes about bottle water and he buys a "veggie burger at Burger King". Go figure.
Oh, is that a liberal vegetarian joke? Like, liberal care about the environment AND what they eat. Funny. Also, I'm female, genius.
No one where I'm from has drinkable tap water. It's just not how we live. You buy gallons from the store, and when they're empty, you refill them at the spring or buy new ones. I don't know how many other communities are like this, but I see your point even if it doesn't work for me.
to the credit of most water bottlers, their water does taste much better than tap water. however their taste is easily and (cheaply) obtained by getting a PUR or brita (though i prefer PUR) filter!
Unfortunately, the water that is piped into our homes in Hong Kong not only tastes bad, at times it smells bad and is discloured. I will be sticking to bottled water.
we have some of the cleanest, best tasting tap water...
i was recently in thailand: since the tap water isn't potable, you can bring a bottle back to refilling station. but in neighboring laos, cambodia and vietnam, the poorer countries, these stations didn't exist. everyone just buys and discards. at least plastic collection (for the deposit money) keeps alot of it out of the water...
I read through the article, and I appreciate the logic, but there are some exceptions to be made for bottled water -
For instance, at my office, we play basketball at a court were there is limited access to drinking fountains, which have no filter to remove the taste, as well as give us a "higher quality" of water (see references above about legal limits of pesticides, hormones, chemicals, and healthy limits). Not saying that all bottled water is better than tap water, nor that all bottled water was created equal, but if it makes the consumer feel better about consuming it, than that's their issue.
Additionally, as the commenter from New Jersey stated, America does have the infrastructure, but not all of the infrastructure is that modern, and indeed some of it is less than stellar.
Just some things to think about.
A few things:
*Americans are paying for clean potable water through our taxes anyway. Might as well enjoy it.
*Check the source of the water on the bottle's label. I have seen some that state in small lettering that it's essentially tap water.
*Even if it's not tap water, it's certainly not from fiji or whatever glorious paradise the name or pictures conjure. That much is quite clear from just reading the label.
*The FDA monitors bottled water sold over state lines. That is, if it's not crossing state lines it is NOT regulated by the FDA.
*The EPA regulates tap water. As something that the government provides to nearly all of its citizens, the regulations have been much stricter than bottled water sold to consumers.
*I have never seen glass-bottled water in America. All those plastic bottles are incredibly wasteful when the water is already flowing directly into your kitchen for your convenience.
*Of course, there are occassions where bottled water might be a good solution (out on a hike, traveling, etc) but it generally just seems like a bad idea if your tap water is more closely monitored so as to be potable. (And in the US, it is.)
I don't get this comments about how nasty tap water is. If the water has a few chemichals in it and tastes funny, just buy a good filter. We've always done that in my family and our filtered water tastes totally fine.
I think you bring up some excellent points. While it's true, as someone else noted, that soda, beer, and the like also come in bottles which require time and energy and produce, a soda or beer bottle is, if you will, almost a necessary evil. That is to say, there is almost no other way no drink those. The vast majority of people do not install soda fountains or beer taps in their homes (although I'd sure like to). Water, on the other hand, IS readily available, WITHOUT packaging. So, to add packaging to a product which doesn't require it, yes, that does create quite a bit of un-needed waste. I've never really looked at it that way before. Thanks for the insight. PS: I live in NJ as well. I don't really mind the tap water all that much, but yeah, purified water undeniably tastes better. That's why I bought a Brita pitcher. As with so many problems, "bad water" also has multiple solutions. The first answer to come to mind isn't always the best one, and it's almost never the only one.
Thanks for the excellent tips. I wish I had thought to have friends scruntinize my apartment when I first moved in, but that was 4 years ago, so it's WAAY too late now. These are definitely tips I'll keep in mind for next time though. -click- There we go. Bookmarked.
In terms of sharing past experiences for the benefit of all, the leasing company who owned the last building I lived in was Hekemian. I don't know how large they are or how many buildings they own. But, if you're going to live in NJ in one of their buildings, you shouldn't worry. My roommate and I threw parties in that apartment almost every weekend. When we left, it was pretty filthy. I fully expected them to keep my entire deposit. They only kept $300, which, trust me, was entirely fair. So, yeah. Hekemian. Decent people.
I like to call bottled water Mother Earth's tears.
I haven't had a drop of tap water since I learned that the commies loaded it with fluoride.
You won't get your red paws on MY bodily fluids, comrade!
Agreed Andrea, and to add what was not said -
Lewis Black actually did a stand up routine with a chunk of it dedicated to this subject, very funny. I live in Chicago where the water is top rated in the nation, but I too buy bottled water, and feel guilty about it.
The bottling companies don't have the same quality standards as municipalities do so the bacteria levels can often be higher then from the tap. The taste may not be the same, but now we have britta and pur water filters so there is really no excuse to buy a plastic sport/camping water bottle and refill it.
Waiting for part 2!
To people in China,
Don't feel too bad. Our water here in the US isn't any better. It is usually "safe", but that is only because they dump so much chlorine into it. In many areas, the water is "hard" and they add additional chemicals to make it "softer". The tap water people claim you can't taste the difference. I know I certainly can.
I avoid buying water in small containers, but that is about all I really can do. Tap water tastes horrible and I don't see why I should be forced to eat and drink things I don't like.
I agree with one of the earlier comments, I buy bottled water because I live in a big city and I am sure it's filled with low concentrations of sewage and hormones and crap. You want to know why male sperm counts are down? I would start by investigating all the female hormones in the drinking water.
The real irony is that the google ads on the right hand side of you page are urging everyone to buy - yep you guessed it - bottled water.
Drinking bottled water is better then drinking coke, beer, or anything else in a can or bottle.
Everything you say about water also applies to every drink that comes in a bottle except those drinks take even more processing and consume even more resources.
What kind a stupid idiot are you that you can't figure that out?
Always remember that if you keep your mouth shut people might think you are an idiot, but when you open it and say something colossally stupid then everybody knows you are an idiot.
dude, i'm from new jersey. we pretty much invented cancer. anyone from jersey will tell you: you can't drink the water here. yeah, it doesn't taste that bad, i drink it sometimes, i make coffee out of it, it tastes like chlorine, but it's OK tasting. but it's what you don't taste that'll get you. plus the pipes are really old here.
Me, I love our tap water. But then, I've always had a thing for chlorine.
What the article does not mention is that the tap water often contains a fair amount of pesticides, antibiotics ect, which although below the legal concentrations, are not without risk : cancer, hormone imbalance and other diseases. The legal limits of these pesticides are often higher than they should be thanks to the agricultural lobby. If I know the water in my area is pure, that is taped from an unpolluted source then I am happy to drink it. But drinking water taken from watersheds where industrial agriculture takes place, or in big cities where water is recycled many times and various drugs people take are concentrated is best avoided.
In Paris area the plastic water bottles are recycled.
What I found so useful about the list is that it is state specific as well as country. I have done a lot of shopping using the list and have come across some real gem items. The best thing is a little bit of haggling can be done over the price.
Thanks
Terry
Psychic ability
I totally aggree, that the transportation creates a lot of pollution, however, you disregard that water may be bottled in glas bottles which are refilled after use. At least, thats how it is over here in Germany. Most of the water here is sold in glas bottles. You pay a deposit of about 25 Eurocent for each bottle (and a couple of Euros for the case). This deposit is returned to you, after returning the bottles to the store...
One more Point to your case:
In Germany (and I'd guess in most western cuntries), tab-water has much higher standards than mineral water. There are several Mineralwaters around, that would not be allowed as tab-water.
Very good site. Thank you.
Unfortunately, the water that is piped into our homes in Hong Kong not only tastes bad, at times it smells bad and is discloured.
Yup. That's why the article is actually about Americans. I've lived in China - and I wouldn't drink the water there without boiling and filtering the hell out of it.
Hmm, gripes about bottle water and he buys a "veggie burger at Burger King". Go figure.
Oh, is that a liberal vegetarian joke? Like, liberal care about the environment AND what they eat. Funny. Also, I'm female, genius.
No one where I'm from has drinkable tap water. It's just not how we live. You buy gallons from the store, and when they're empty, you refill them at the spring or buy new ones. I don't know how many other communities are like this, but I see your point even if it doesn't work for me.
to the credit of most water bottlers, their water does taste much better than tap water. however their taste is easily and (cheaply) obtained by getting a PUR or brita (though i prefer PUR) filter!
not sure why people still buy bottled water.
Hmm, gripes about bottle water and he buys a "veggie burger at Burger King". Go figure.
And a perfect excuse for me to start drinking tap water again. Trouble is, ours tastes like recycled urine but hey, anything for the planet.
Unfortunately, the water that is piped into our homes in Hong Kong not only tastes bad, at times it smells bad and is discloured. I will be sticking to bottled water.