Do you drink tap water?

maureak

I am fortunate enough to live in a city with good tap water and prefer it to bottled water. I have some store bought bottles that I refill and keep in the refrigerator. I find that when the water is cold, it doesn't taste any different from bottled water.

kristendo

I used to have the same problem, i could NOT stand tap water. basically what got me to switch was my eco friendly friend found out how many plastic water bottles i was buying a day, and she bought me a nice travel bottle. it was extremely hard to do first because of the taste, and my paranoia of the "safely" of tap water. what helped me a lot was always keeping it on me and having ice in it. there's something about it being really really cold that makes me forget its tab water. after a month or so i finally got used to it now the only time i buy water is when im dying of thirst and i did not bring my own

anyways good luck!

feliciapeters

buy a few gallons of spring water at the grocery store. you can refill bottles from that. Many grocery stores have a water dispenser machine in the lobby, where you can refill the empty gallon bottles for about .50 or so.

Ms_Natalie

Hi there,
I'm lucky to live in a beautiful welsh valley where the water is lovely...we always get compliments from other people visiting.

If the Brita filter doesn't work, try adding a slice of lemon as suggested.

I think with time it should begin to taste normal to you, surely your apartment must follow certain regulations to ensure it is safe to drink, so I wouldn't worry about the any health consequences.

Good Luck :flowerforyou:

Frappuzzino

Get a water cooler! You save so much plastic that way too. You can buy 5 gallon bottles from Lowes, and exchange them for new bottles at only $6 a piece.

AdAstra47

I grew up drinking nothing but tap water & well water, and never thought anything of it until I moved away to college in another state and discovered that not all water is created equal. :-) Depending on the mineral content, it can make the water harder or softer or give it a different taste, so what works for one person in one geographic area may not work for someone in a different place. To cover the taste, I mean. You're probably just going to have to experiment, there are lots of good ideas here in previous posts. What has worked for me most often is keeping it extremely cold and dropping a couple of cucumber slices in the bottom of the pitcher.

But if it sets your mind at ease at all, the brownish water at first is nothing to worry about. Every place I've ever lived, that's been the case, whether using a kitchen sink or a water fountain. If no one else has used it in a few hours, the first few seconds of water has been sitting in the elbow of the pipe all that time, where minerals tend to collect. It won't hurt you, but if the taste or color bothers you, just run the water until it's clear, 10-15 seconds, before you drink.

atomiclauren

I don't mind our tap water (doesn't taste like much of anything to me) but occasionally there are creepy issues like you described (oldish pipes - house was built in 1958).

We have a Brita pitcher (okay, not a pitcher...more like a tub!) which works well and we sometimes find deals on filters online. We don't do bottled water but for on the go refill reusable bottles. Luckily I have access to water at work (not a cooler, but filtered) that I use to refill my bottle (I recently posted a topic about bottles - I'm searching for the perfect one :blushing: ).

...and those water refill places - I have seen them around but never used them - maybe there are some up there...no clue! Here is one I remember seeing around here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=77006&aq=&sll=29.87928,-95.493998&sspn=0.864483,1.234589&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Houston,+Texas+77006&ll=29.73866,-95.401658&spn=0.006763,0.009645&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=29.738656,-95.401767&panoid=P3f05wO1lHFKVW5eqpGVmQ&cbp=12,172.92,,0,-3.5

lilfind

Go to www.oneearthfilteredbottles.com You can still fill this filtered water bottle up with tap water! Good for the environment by not using plastic water bottles anymore!

eeeekie

no, tap water gives me a stomach ache.

I don't like Brita water it tastes like tap water but if you can get the 0 water I'd suggest it. It's awesome and tastes great. I can taste it when the filter is going bad and reads 0.8 lol...I'm very sensitive to changes in water because it makes me sick.

WalkingGirl1985

I drink tap water..i think our water tastes pretty clean..and good on those warm/hot days when its ice cold. :bigsmile:

MostlySunny

You can get a filtering system that goes under your sink and has its own tap. It's more expensive than a pitcher, but it filters better and the filters last longer. Also, I put lemons, limes, cucumbers, mint leaves, etc. in my water- if you let it sit overnight in the fridge, it's better than juice!

HeatherShrinking

I drink tap water all the time. I'm pretty lucky in my area the tap water tastes much better than bottled water. I'd be a bit concerned it takes so long for your water to turn clear. Is there any place you can take your water to be tested? Other than that, I'd go with a brita or equivalent filter. I think you can get them installed right on your tap.

fteale

I used to prefer bottled water when we lived in London, but now I drink tap water. I don't find it tastes any different. I don't like the idea of all that plastic landfill.

kissincuzin

I live in the Ozarks and we get our water from our private well. We have a very high mineral content and I don't care for the flavor out of the tap. I double filter my water, I have a filter on the faucet in the kitchen and then I have a britta picture that I keep in the fridge. I'm like a lot of people I really don't like the water in town so I carry my own with me.

Ash10Dent

I too use a Britta Pitcher..not only is it expensive to keep buying water bottles but it's HORRIBLE for our environment (sorry I'm a bit of a hippie). I just think why would I pay for all that plastic if I can get it from my spicket for free? We live on base and they sent out a letter shortly after we moved here saying the water was not safe to drink. LOVELY! So we got the filter and I cannot taste anything. The water without the filter is absolutely gross though.

Tricia130

I do drink tap water but I add lemon, lime, cucumber or orange slices to mask the taste, plus adds diversity to just having water! The citrus taste in the water makes me drink lots all day I'm at 8 and I usually don't even know because I love the taste now!!

writtenINthestars

BRITA! Cut my bottled water consumption out completely. I bought a few reusable bottles of my own and just always keep one on me.