Why do I see people buying multiple flats of bottled water?

[Anonymous]

When I first moved to DC in 1995 there was a boil water alert within a month. There were also lead issues in DC pipes back in the 2000s. I know because my kids’ pediatrician suggested I get tested (I was breastfeeding) and I did have higher lead levels than normal! And that was with a filter.

Anyway, FF and I live in ARL now, I’ve traveled all over and I just google water safety before I go places. Arlington has very safe water. I was just out in the CO mountains and the tap water was amazing. In other places I’ve bought bottled water because the water isn’t great.

To just buy water carte blanche is such a waste of our planet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people think the public tap water is dirty yet it's cleaner and more regulated than bottle water is so it doesn't make sense. I think it's sheer ignorance. Even using a brita or pur water filter with tap water is better than buying water it's cheaper and doesn't waste a bunch of plastic.

Tap certainly is not cleaner than bottled water since bottled water is just filtered tap water.

I wish people would do a simple search before running their mouth or fingers online. Tap water is indeed cleaner than bottled water. LOOK. IT. UP. STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION because of your ignorance.

Typing in all caps does not make your statements more true. In the greater DC area, the source of tap water is the Potomac river for most people. Many millions of people. The water treatment plants release treated sewer water into the river, sometimes upstream from water intake points. That said, any water on the planet, no matter how polluted can be filtered, purified, and sanitized. That makes it "safe", not necessarily healthy. Only a tiny percent of treated water is used for drinking and you pay pennies a gallon out of the tap for water that is filtered, then treated with more chlorine that you would allow in a swimming pool. That water is then pumped into storage tanks before going through miles of old iron pipes in most cases before it reaches your household. It could be 5 days old before it reaches your tap so it has to have enough residual chlorine in it to keep it safe and sanitized for it's whole life-span from the treatment plant to your home.

There are basically two types of bottled water. Spring water, which comes from an underground source (basically well water) and will usually contain natural amounts of minerals and any number of other things that are all supposed to be below safe limits. The other type is, filtered water. This is water that is typically filtered with reverse osmosis and renders the water purified and is the cleanest water you can buy. The process also removes all minerals from the water.

There are basically two types of purified, filtered water. Pure water has no minerals added back. Aquafina is an example of pure water. Read the label and it will tell you. The other kind is filtered, purified water where minerals are added back to the water. Dasani is an example of water with mineral added back. Some people like the clean taste of pure water and find the taste of water with minerals added to be a bit, chalky. Other people prefer the taste water with minerals added. Read the labels on any brand of water those are the three types you will see. Spring water, pure water, pure water with minerals added. That's it.

The claims that bottled water is merely tap water is ridiculous. Tap water is not highly filtered and the methods we use in the US to sanitize the water is chlorination. Or, choramines. A LOT. Both are inexpensive, highly effective, and well known. At a penny or so a gallon for water that most people don't drink, that's what you get. Industry uses more tap water than all the households put together. It would be a rediculous standard to impose on water treatment plants to deliver us pure, highly filtered water to our faucets with no chemicals added. But you can take those steps yourself.

Tap water is safe to drink but it's a good idea to use a filter to remove the chlorine. Most all filter products, like Britta, or your fridge filter use activated charcoal/carbon. You can also have a tank installed that will remove the chlorine from all of your household water which is better for your skin and hair. Once the water reaches your home, the chlorine has done it's job. You can also tap a gallon of water and leave it sit, open, for a day and all, or most all of the chlorine will evaporate out of the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Microplastics are associated with endocrine-disrupting obesogens. Plastic bottles break down into microplastics, especially when heated.

"Microplastics induce oxidative stress and alter energy and fatty acid metabolism. Accumulation of microplastics in the liver and kidney has also been shown to boost the growth and accumulation of fat cells and disrupt energy balance, which ultimately can affect body weight."

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/geh_newsletter/2022/6/spotlight/microplastics_may_increase_risk_for_obesity.cfm#:~:text=Microplastics%20induce%20oxidative%20stress%20and,ultimately%20can%20affect%20body%20weight.

Ya'll good with exposing kids to that?

Who is heating their bottled water in the plastic bottle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Microplastics are associated with endocrine-disrupting obesogens. Plastic bottles break down into microplastics, especially when heated.

"Microplastics induce oxidative stress and alter energy and fatty acid metabolism. Accumulation of microplastics in the liver and kidney has also been shown to boost the growth and accumulation of fat cells and disrupt energy balance, which ultimately can affect body weight."

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/geh_newsletter/2022/6/spotlight/microplastics_may_increase_risk_for_obesity.cfm#:~:text=Microplastics%20induce%20oxidative%20stress%20and,ultimately%20can%20affect%20body%20weight.

Ya'll good with exposing kids to that?

Who is heating their bottled water in the plastic bottle?

I always leave my cases of bottled water out in the hot sun for a good month or so before drinking it. Doesn't everyone?

[Anonymous]

Don't be surprised if the supreme court declares Miranda unconstitutional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people think the public tap water is dirty yet it's cleaner and more regulated than bottle water is so it doesn't make sense. I think it's sheer ignorance. Even using a brita or pur water filter with tap water is better than buying water it's cheaper and doesn't waste a bunch of plastic.

Tap certainly is not cleaner than bottled water since bottled water is just filtered tap water.

I wish people would do a simple search before running their mouth or fingers online. Tap water is indeed cleaner than bottled water. LOOK. IT. UP. STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION because of your ignorance.

Typing in all caps does not make your statements more true. In the greater DC area, the source of tap water is the Potomac river for most people. Many millions of people. The water treatment plants release treated sewer water into the river, sometimes upstream from water intake points. That said, any water on the planet, no matter how polluted can be filtered, purified, and sanitized. That makes it "safe", not necessarily healthy. Only a tiny percent of treated water is used for drinking and you pay pennies a gallon out of the tap for water that is filtered, then treated with more chlorine that you would allow in a swimming pool. That water is then pumped into storage tanks before going through miles of old iron pipes in most cases before it reaches your household. It could be 5 days old before it reaches your tap so it has to have enough residual chlorine in it to keep it safe and sanitized for it's whole life-span from the treatment plant to your home.

There are basically two types of bottled water. Spring water, which comes from an underground source (basically well water) and will usually contain natural amounts of minerals and any number of other things that are all supposed to be below safe limits. The other type is, filtered water. This is water that is typically filtered with reverse osmosis and renders the water purified and is the cleanest water you can buy. The process also removes all minerals from the water.

There are basically two types of purified, filtered water. Pure water has no minerals added back. Aquafina is an example of pure water. Read the label and it will tell you. The other kind is filtered, purified water where minerals are added back to the water. Dasani is an example of water with mineral added back. Some people like the clean taste of pure water and find the taste of water with minerals added to be a bit, chalky. Other people prefer the taste water with minerals added. Read the labels on any brand of water those are the three types you will see. Spring water, pure water, pure water with minerals added. That's it.

The claims that bottled water is merely tap water is ridiculous. Tap water is not highly filtered and the methods we use in the US to sanitize the water is chlorination. Or, choramines. A LOT. Both are inexpensive, highly effective, and well known. At a penny or so a gallon for water that most people don't drink, that's what you get. Industry uses more tap water than all the households put together. It would be a rediculous standard to impose on water treatment plants to deliver us pure, highly filtered water to our faucets with no chemicals added. But you can take those steps yourself.

Tap water is safe to drink but it's a good idea to use a filter to remove the chlorine. Most all filter products, like Britta, or your fridge filter use activated charcoal/carbon. You can also have a tank installed that will remove the chlorine from all of your household water which is better for your skin and hair. Once the water reaches your home, the chlorine has done it's job. You can also tap a gallon of water and leave it sit, open, for a day and all, or most all of the chlorine will evaporate out of the water.

You wrote a novel and failed to address the plastic waste of bottled water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people think the public tap water is dirty yet it's cleaner and more regulated than bottle water is so it doesn't make sense. I think it's sheer ignorance. Even using a brita or pur water filter with tap water is better than buying water it's cheaper and doesn't waste a bunch of plastic.

Tap certainly is not cleaner than bottled water since bottled water is just filtered tap water.

I wish people would do a simple search before running their mouth or fingers online. Tap water is indeed cleaner than bottled water. LOOK. IT. UP. STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION because of your ignorance.

Typing in all caps does not make your statements more true. In the greater DC area, the source of tap water is the Potomac river for most people. Many millions of people. The water treatment plants release treated sewer water into the river, sometimes upstream from water intake points. That said, any water on the planet, no matter how polluted can be filtered, purified, and sanitized. That makes it "safe", not necessarily healthy. Only a tiny percent of treated water is used for drinking and you pay pennies a gallon out of the tap for water that is filtered, then treated with more chlorine that you would allow in a swimming pool. That water is then pumped into storage tanks before going through miles of old iron pipes in most cases before it reaches your household. It could be 5 days old before it reaches your tap so it has to have enough residual chlorine in it to keep it safe and sanitized for it's whole life-span from the treatment plant to your home.

There are basically two types of bottled water. Spring water, which comes from an underground source (basically well water) and will usually contain natural amounts of minerals and any number of other things that are all supposed to be below safe limits. The other type is, filtered water. This is water that is typically filtered with reverse osmosis and renders the water purified and is the cleanest water you can buy. The process also removes all minerals from the water.

There are basically two types of purified, filtered water. Pure water has no minerals added back. Aquafina is an example of pure water. Read the label and it will tell you. The other kind is filtered, purified water where minerals are added back to the water. Dasani is an example of water with mineral added back. Some people like the clean taste of pure water and find the taste of water with minerals added to be a bit, chalky. Other people prefer the taste water with minerals added. Read the labels on any brand of water those are the three types you will see. Spring water, pure water, pure water with minerals added. That's it.

The claims that bottled water is merely tap water is ridiculous. Tap water is not highly filtered and the methods we use in the US to sanitize the water is chlorination. Or, choramines. A LOT. Both are inexpensive, highly effective, and well known. At a penny or so a gallon for water that most people don't drink, that's what you get. Industry uses more tap water than all the households put together. It would be a rediculous standard to impose on water treatment plants to deliver us pure, highly filtered water to our faucets with no chemicals added. But you can take those steps yourself.

Tap water is safe to drink but it's a good idea to use a filter to remove the chlorine. Most all filter products, like Britta, or your fridge filter use activated charcoal/carbon. You can also have a tank installed that will remove the chlorine from all of your household water which is better for your skin and hair. Once the water reaches your home, the chlorine has done it's job. You can also tap a gallon of water and leave it sit, open, for a day and all, or most all of the chlorine will evaporate out of the water.

You wrote a novel and failed to address the plastic waste of bottled water.

So? That's not the subject of the thread which is, "Why do I see people buying multiple flats of bottled water?" If you get most of your drinking water from a plastic bottle then clearly you don't care about plastic waste. The well water from my kitchen tap tastes better than any bottled water and I'm responsible for how it's filtered. I fill a large, stainless thermal cup to take with me every day and a thermos that holds another half gallon in the summer and that's what I drink. I think it's pretty silly to buy bottled water but to each their own. I've pointed out how you can filter your own tap water for drinking, or even filter your whole house water but most people probably know this. Bottled water is here to stay unless it's outlawed which isn't likely, even in California. Somehow, people have decided that we just can't live without bottled water and our tap water will kill us so it's the only way. Meanwhile, I'm of the generation who grew up without bottled water and somehow survived so forgive me if I think people who insist on it are pretty foolish.

[Anonymous]

So 3-5 water filtration systems waste of money? was thinking about buying.

[Anonymous]

school event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So 3-5 water filtration systems waste of money? was thinking about buying.

Depends on what you want to accomplish. If you just want good drinking water, an inline charcoal filter will work great and they are all the same technology. They will remove the chlorine which makes the water taste bad and a lot of other stuff. Britta pitcher, purr filter, fridge filter and a host of other brands are all the same. Some have more charcoal than others and cost is all over the place.

The next step up is reverse osmosis. Some people love them but there are real issues. It wastes about 3 gallons of water for every one it filters. The water is then stored in a pressure tank which takes up a good amount of room if you put it under your kitchen sink. It's better in the basement then hooked up to the fridge water. From there that water which has sat in that tank, getting warm for days, goes through a final charcoal filter to remove bad tastes from the rubber bladder in the tank. It's super filtered at that point but prone to getting contaminated. Most people will not properly service the equipment which involves changing all the filters, cleaning out the whole system with bleach and bleaching the tank at least once a year. You can buy the R/O set-up yourself at Lowes or online for about $200 or companies will install them for a lot more.

Beyond that, you can buy a tank with a cubic foot of activated carbon if you have municipal water to remove all the chlorine and it will last many years. Then a water softener. This system will remove the chlorine then remove all the minerals and you will love the water. It's great for bathing, washing your hair, drinking, and your dishwasher, washing machine and water heater will all greatly benefit. Expect to pay $5k or more installed from the in-home sales companies like, Culligan, etc. Or about $1000 online plus no more than two hours for your plumber to install. Unless you do it yourself if you're handy. It's pretty easy. Just have to add salt to the salt tank once in a while. It's fairly cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly hispanic people in my neighborhood of North Alexandria. Are there water quality issues or is this a cultural thing?

They are probably working jobs where they must provide their own drinks for the whole day and probably doing manual labor jobs where they work up a sweat and thirst. I know the lawn service guys at my apartment complex are all Hispanic and each has their own cooler full of beverages. I'll often see them each with frozen gallon jugs of spring water during the summer months.

Yup. Because they will get screamed at by clients if they ask to refill a bottle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly hispanic people in my neighborhood of North Alexandria. Are there water quality issues or is this a cultural thing?

They are probably working jobs where they must provide their own drinks for the whole day and probably doing manual labor jobs where they work up a sweat and thirst. I know the lawn service guys at my apartment complex are all Hispanic and each has their own cooler full of beverages. I'll often see them each with frozen gallon jugs of spring water during the summer months.

Yup. Because they will get screamed at by clients if they ask to refill a bottle.

Or, God forbid, use the bathroom, park in the driveway, or stage their work in the garage.

[Anonymous]

A lot of farm workers do not have access to fresh water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of farm workers do not have access to fresh water.

Same with professional athletes