Anonymous wrote:We bought a countertop distiller, so we could distill our own and not have to lug the bottles up the stairs.

You shouldn't drink distilled water.

The water in my DC office is so gross! I can't afford to buy four bottles of water a day at the deli so I am always dehydrated.

Anonymous wrote:Don't drink tap in DC.

This.

And it's probably the high lead content in the water you are tasting. Don't drink the tap water in DC in any large amount for sure.

Dearest ones in DC,
I came to visit my daughter in Washington, DC (she lives in Adam Morgan) and I can assure you: your water tastes like mold and because mold can cause cancer this is a very serious topic that should have top priority for everyone in this town.
Because you are electing a new mayor it is a good time to start asking your politicians to look into this and come up with a solution!
Are the algae in the pipes? In the water reservoir ? Is there a test that can be made to detect the presence of mold and are international standards for quality of water that are at present not met by DC water?
All these are questions that should be answered by Local and Federal Government (I was told today that in a number of Government buildings the water has been declared not drinkable).
Hope something can be done!
MEG, a very concerned mother.

I noticed tap water at a restaurant in NOVA yesterday tasted like mold. Bleck!

Anonymous wrote:Huh. OP here. Glad it's not just me. I actually had DCWater come out and test it but they found everything (including bacteria) within normal range but I don't think they check directly for mold or mildew. I've noticed for a month too - thought it was because we went away for vacation but after flushing the system it is still gross. Just ordered a cooler for the house. I couldn't take it anymore.

+1, got back from a two week vacation end of August and found water undrinkable. Was asking everyone I knew, if there was some problem while we were gone. Started buying only bottled and then noticed it at a restaurant too. Wish there was some information out there, but glad to know I'm not crazy!

Glad it's not just in my head. The water always would smell like chlorine Super bad. I would always fill up my counter top filter and think the water smelled like a swimming pool. Now to me it smells like dirt. Like when it first starts to rain and it kinda smells like dirt. Or maybe that is what coliforms smell like.

Don't drink tap in DC.

Huh. OP here. Glad it's not just me. I actually had DCWater come out and test it but they found everything (including bacteria) within normal range but I don't think they check directly for mold or mildew. I've noticed for a month too - thought it was because we went away for vacation but after flushing the system it is still gross. Just ordered a cooler for the house. I couldn't take it anymore.

In Fairfax they treat the water with something to kill the algae

For the past month or so it has tasted like mold. Various spots in Penn Quarter. I assume it will improve with colder weather if it's algae blooms. But there should be some official notice. Was in a restaurant and neither of us could drink the tap water. Had a $5 soft drink with calories at lunch. Arg.

they should pay you to use it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean DCUMers worry about organic this-and-that, unhealthy school lunches, consuming sugar & additives, and GMOs - but you're still drinking tap water?

You do realize that bottled water is just tap water repackaged and sold back to you at an enormous markup, right? Albeit, the water is likely not from DC, but it's still just tap water.

I don't care what it is, I care that it tastes better (and it does)! Except dasani, that stuff is garbage.

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean DCUMers worry about organic this-and-that, unhealthy school lunches, consuming sugar & additives, and GMOs - but you're still drinking tap water?

You do realize that bottled water is just tap water repackaged and sold back to you at an enormous markup, right? Albeit, the water is likely not from DC, but it's still just tap water.

I've been tasting it too. I only taste it at our house when I brush teeth (we use a Pur filter for nearly everything on our kitchen sink).