Poll - Water preferences

[funnybone]

We moved to an with hard water and have a water softener (in PA). Our fridge (Jenn Air) has a filter but I cannot stand the taste of the water as it is salty. Instead we buy bottled water to drink. However, I do not like the taste of the brands of water here. I used to love "Zephyrhills" when we lived in the Atlanta area. It just tasted clean with no aftertaste.

My question is, what water do you drink - tap, filtered, store bought, etc? Do you find the same "aftertaste" problems I do. Also, who actually drinks 8+ glasses a day? I am guilty of not doing so, because I cannot bring myself to drink the water. I can only drink so much Perrier. Also, when you have to add water to a recipe (and I don't for mean boiling pasta), or if you make coffee, do you use tap or bottled water? I'm just curious.

[Gail]

Since I am firmly convinced our local water (South Bay, Los Angeles area) can grow hair on your teeth, drinking anything from the tap is out of the question. Although I get a ton of "eews" from people who are convinced the stuff only goes in steam irons, it's distilled for me, baby, all the way. (Arrowhead is our preferred brand.)

[kentgirl]

I buy bottled water for drinking from a company called Pure Water. The water is great and has no after taste at all.

I usually just use tap water for recipes, but for coffee, we use strictly bottled water.

I drink 80 to 90 ounces of water a days....really! Sometimes I even hit the 110 mark. I love water, and I am constantly drinking it. Thank goodness our company provides bottled water here at work as well.

Of course, I'm also grateful I'm close to the ladies room!

[aggie94]

One of the few things I will truly miss about Oregon if we ever leave here is the water. I can't imagine spending money on water filters or bottled water living here -- it tastes great straight out of the tap! In fact, the city where I work (Salem, not Eugene, where I live) was ranked #1 by Money magazine for water quality. When I was living in Texas, especially in College Station, I always drank bottled water or water that had been filtered through my Brita pitcher. Not for cooking, though, but even for coffee. The water in College Station was BAD. My favorite bottled water to drink back then was Volvic, but I don't see it too many places anymore. I always thought it truly tasted like nothing.

It used to be hard work to get 8+ glasses of water in everyday, but now it's easy. I think I easily drink 100+ fl oz of water a day. Exercise helps -- I read somewhere that for each 1/2 hour of exercise (and I think they mean somewhat intense or strenuous physical exercise), you should add a liter of water to that 8 glasses a day.

[Emdg]

We also live in a hard water area (CA)and have a water softener. To eliminate the salt problem we put in a reverse osmosis unit. It has a dispenser in the sink and we hooked it up to our fridge as well. This is the sweetest water I have ever tasted! Friends fill their water bottles before they leave.
I use it to cook, unless I'm boiling water for pasta.

If I want bubbly water, I like Pelligrino.

I am addicted to water. And, yes, I get at least 70-80 oz. in a day!

[Julia1Pin]

We just changed the filter in our refrigerator (GE) and boy do I love the new "taste".

At work, where I drink most of my water beacuse I am making myself, the water is those bis alhambra/sparkletts things. I find that I can get 8 8oz glasses in sneakily (love that word). I realized after a couple of days, that I have been drinking the 16oz. paper cups. It's alot less dounting to drink 4 cups vs. 8 cups. Try it http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Regarding, cooking, I just use tap. Everything that's boiled/cooked gets naturally "sanitized" anyways.

[This message has been edited by Julia1Pin (edited 03-28-2001).]

[Michael Smith]

I suggest you conduct a blind taste test on your bottled water plus the tap water to see what you actually prefer - it might surprise you. Plus it's fun if you get some friends involved in the experiment and reward them with wine (my favorite liquid) afterwards.

While a lot of people prefer bottled - check the analysis on the bottle. Some contain fairly high levels of sodium and some contain heavy metals - so be on the lookout.
Distilled is very safe, but it's bland. It's amazing how much emphasis we put on taste!

In any case, a nice slice of lemon can do wonders too!

[mandarin2j]

Where I grew up, in Sandy, Oregon (small town near Mt. Hood), we had our own well, and that was the best water I've ever had. DH and I have city (Portland) water at our home, and it's fine right from the tap. At work, we have filtered water, and I drink at least 8 glasses while at work. I'm beginning to realize how much we take clean water for granted here, though. Portland water is fed by the Bull Run Watershed in the Mt. Hood Natl. Forest, but Wilsonville, a suburb of Portland, has to get their water from the Willamette, which is headed for (if not already there) a Superfund listing. Yuck!

-Amanda

[Wendy w]

I am partial to sparkling (aka: "fuzzy")water.

[SueK]

Funnybone---where in PA do you live? I also live in PA. I do drink our tap water, but we have a large bottled water company nearby, and they contract out for many companies. We can pick up a case of 35 oz. bottles for only like $3. Can't beat it.

Like Wendy, I also love the flavored sparkling waters. My daughter is not a big fan of water, but she'll drink those, and I also find them a lot more refreshing than a soda.

[mightyh]

I'm a water fanatic.... I barely drink anything else. Maybe a soda once a month or so...

I like our tap water (filtered through a pitcher) here in SW Illinois.

As for bottled water, my favorite by far is Volvic, though I like many others. I HATE Evian.... the taste is just not "clean" to me. It's amazing how different water can taste. (I feel like Phoebe extolling the subtley different tastes of bean varieties http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

[kwormann]

We drink tap water taken through our Brita faucet...and I LOVE water and probably get MORE than 8 glasses!

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Hoosier65]

I fill up my Brita pitcher every morning and when it's empty I know I've had my 8 glasses for the day (at least) Water is the only thinkg I drink, except for the occasional glass of wine or drink (mixed with water) I like while fixing dinner. I can't remember the last time I drank a soda.

[Sara Emily]

I just wanted to give our Pur water system equal time with those Brita users! We used to buy bottled water all the time from a company that brought it in, but it got expensive and aggravating. Pur seems to fit our taste and health needs nicely.

[eloise forever]

Originally posted by mightyh:
As for bottled water, my favorite by far is Volvic, though I like many others. I HATE Evian.... the taste is just not "clean" to me. It's amazing how different water can taste. (I feel like Phoebe extolling the subtley different tastes of bean varieties http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

It truly is funny how different people's tastes are. I LOVE Evian. It is all I drink. I have tried several brands, but I don't like any as much as Evian. I even tried Volvic because I read a great review of it. Don't like it. Go figure! I guess that is how so many brands of water can survive the market. They DON'T all taste the same (contrary to what my husband says - he doesn't believe in paying for bottled water because it is "just water"). So, I am happy that there are so many choices for us!

I generally use tap water for cooking and ice cubes, etc. The tap water in Chapel Hill doesn't taste too bad.

[funnybone]

Originally posted by SueK:
Funnybone---where in PA do you live?

I'm in the Lancaster area.

[LGBurns]

I have a Brita at home but would like to get a filter for my sink. I really feel guilty buying bottled water because I hate throwing away all those plastic bottles. I'd also like to get a Brita travel bottle so I can filter water anywhere.

I did read once that "they" (the infamous "they") did a comparison between New York tap water (which contrary to what you might expect is excellent water) and bottled water and they found that the New York tap water was cleaner. Something to think about when buying these bottled waters. Course the pipes the water comes out of? That's a whole 'nother story.

[KValley]

We use a Brita filter/pitcher.

I fill up a 64 oz container first thing in the morning and that is gone by 1:00 or 2:00 pm. After that I don't bother to measure.
I certainly notice the difference on weekends, when my routine is more lax, or when I travel, and I do not consume as much H20 - I get headachy, cranky, and hungry long before lunch- it's really just dehydration.

In the year since I have made a conscious effort to increase my H20 consumption I have not been ill once- not a sniffle, even. And my DH is a teacher, so he brings home all sorts of colds and flus from the kids.

And yes, there is a well-worn path between my office and the bathroom http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif But that gets me up and moving around instead of locked up at the computer.

[AD]

I actually get 12 glasses a day. I have digestive difficulties and take milk of magnesia every day (under a doctor's supervision), which puts me at a risk for dehydration. Thus, I have not experienced any fluid or electrolyte problems as a result during the past 4 years I've been taking it.
I drink a little tap water on occasion to save money, but use mostly bottled. I don't like water with added minerals or sodium. I really like Aquafina, but I find it more convenient and affordable to buy Sparklett's Spring Water. I stock about 30 six-packs in my garage at a time! These are the only 2 types I have found to be 100 percent tasteless.

[Leslie w]

I have nasty, nasty, well water. My husband put filters on all our sinks but my fave water is the refrigerator water that has a Culligan filter.

Incidentally I might want to add for any of you w/ small children if you give them bottled or filtered water you might want to check w/ their pediatricians about whether they may need a flouride supplement. My kids take it because we have a well but I've heard bottle water should be supplemented too.

[mlou]

Yea Gail! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif It is a shame that people don't actually think about those bottles which are a contributor to our water problems in the first place.

I vote distilled all the way also. It is important to know there are no standards for bottled water--they could be from someone else municipal water system--the bottled part means nothing.

Before I went distilled, I used Brita and think it's wonderful!! We just use too much water in my house and the filters were getting costly. Distilled is by far the purest and there is no aftertaste!

[LGBurns]

I always thought distilled water was bad for you? I vaguely remember learning back in high school biology (waaaaaaaaaaay back http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif) that distilled water messed with your cells ability to... oh shoot I can't remember exactly except that it can make your cells explode. Something about the stuff inside your cells and outside your cells getting off causing the cell membrane to burst. (Can you tell I'm not a science major?) Can anyone shed some light on this? Just recently my MIL (a nurse) confirmed that distilled water is not for drinking, but she did not go in to why. I may have to give her a call tomorrow.

[JLS]

I have a Brita that I keep in the frig. that I usually fill up once a day. I usually don't drink any tap water (regardless of where I am). But the LOVE of my life is Poland Spring Lemon. It is an expensive habit though (they just raised the price per bottle), so I don't buy as much as I used to.

[This message has been edited by JLS (edited 03-28-2001).]

[mlou]

The popular thought of most anti-distilled people is that it leaches minerals from your body. This is true BUT it only leaches minerals which have not made it into your bloodstream and are useless anyway. This is why many people do advocate it for a good de-tox, as it goes through your system it takes with it more garbage than regular water. Besides it tastes great and lets your food and coffee taste the way they are supposed to.

[Jewel]

About a year and a half ago my husband and I bought the newer Moen Pure Touch Faucet for our kitchen. It's a white pull-out jobber that has a built in Culligan filter in the spout/handle that can handle 200 gallons of water before it poops out. You've got tap water coming out whenever you turn on the faucet, but hit a little button in the front and suddenly filtered water is coming out of a different little spout! Cool little LED display tells you at what 'percentage' of the filter is left.

I keep water bottles in my fridge. As soon as I drink one I fill it up with the filtered water from the faucet, then stash it in the fridge and pull out another cold one! We use the filtered water for coffee, ice cubes, iced tea, Kool-Aid, and just about anything else that we drink! Water tastes better than any bottled we've ever tried, and it's saved so much money! Faucet was $260, and it came with a filter that lasted us nearly a year. We've still got 80% left on our second filter! Filters are $22 each. No, I don't work for Moen or Culligan, but when you compare the cost of the bottled water, plus the poor recycled plastic bottles? I'd rather make my own!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Kristilyn1]

I've always grown up on well water--which I love (usually!) I've had a potassium based water filtration system which was okay, running it through the refrigerator culligan filter. My favorite water is Poland Springs bottled water. We get the mega jugs at work and that is what I drink--after reading this thread, I will be drinking more!

Kristi

[MelissaAS]

At home, we're Brita people (although not for cooking or coffee). I bring bottled water to work (Poland Springs). Often by dinner time, I'm sick of "plain" water so I either add a splash of lemon or lime to my Brita water or switch to sparkling water for the evening.

[LSB]

I'm a water junkie. I really feel it when I don't have enough. I drink about a gallon a day (except on days when I'm in meetings a lot or in the car a lot - for obvious reasons!). I drink the Whole Foods brand (called 365 I think?) and I like it. I also keep a Brita pitcher in the fridge and use that for coffee/tea, rice etc. The tap water here is OK, but it's hard to drink after you get used to bottled. I figure it's worth the price since that's about all I drink - aside from alcohol! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[MrsReber]

I drink lots and lots of water. It was hard at first, but now I don't even keep track. I know I have a glass before work, 48 oz or more at work, and then a couple of big mugs of water when I get home. I really don't get sick that much, either.

We have a Brita pitcher (the big sucker) at home in the fridge. We are constantly filling it up. If I am cooking, I usually just use the tap water since the water will be boiled or baked at a high temp. My husband would like me to drink bottled water all the time for the baby's sake, but I have heard that some of the bottled water is not exactly as good as they claim. We have a well and I was always complaining that the water tasted funny, so we got the Brita pitcher. I worry because we do have contaminated wells about 5 miles from us.

About the flouride- that's a really good point. My sister took her 6 year old to the dentist and the poor kid had lots of cavities. She feels terrible now since she didn't realize there wasn't flouride in the well water! They are doing flouride treatments now. At least her daughter has a second chance with some of her teeth since she just lost her first baby tooth.

[Andrew]

I drink 16 to 20 8oz glasses of water every day and am addicted to it. Although Portland has good water quality there is a filter under the sink as well as on the refrigerator. I'm posting an email on the subject of Water or Coke?:

Subject: Water or Coke?
We all know that water is important but I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER

1) 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
(Likely applies to half of the world pop.

2) In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

3) One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

4) Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

5) Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

6) A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

7) Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

COKE No wonder coke tastes soooo good: (White refined sugar is only one molecule different in structure than COCAINE!)

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and.......Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean.
The citric acid in Coke remove's stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals:
Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt:
Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham:
Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes:
Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FYI: 1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Still Want To Drink Up?

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by mightyh:
(I feel like Phoebe extolling the subtley different tastes of bean varieties http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

Hey, we all have our specialties, right? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif As for me, unless the water is positively poisonous, or has nasty thingies floating and/or swimming around in it, it all tastes pretty much the same to me. I take my water straight out the tap (she growls, hitching up her pants and switching her chawed-up see-gar from one side of her mouth to the other). Anyone gotta problem wi' that?

Cheers,
Phoebe

PS - I was just kidding about the cigar. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[aggie94]

mightyh: I too love Volvic and hate Evian! It's interesting how different people's tastes are, since I read that eloise forever loves Evian.

[Curleytop]

Originally posted by Gail:
Since I am firmly convinced our local water (South Bay, Los Angeles area) can grow hair on your teeth, drinking anything from the tap is out of the question. Although I get a ton of "eews" from people who are convinced the stuff only goes in steam irons, it's distilled for me, baby, all the way. (Arrowhead is our preferred brand.)
I also live in the South Bay(Calif. Water Service)! The water is very hard! I have an
EVERPUR water conditioner under the kitchen sink, with a diverter to the fridge. I use the conditioned water for cooking and drinking. Have had it for 13 years! Once a year I go to Pacific Sales and get a new cartridge!

[Hoosier65]

Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

[Gail]

Hoosier,

It's been a long time since I've read anything which has made me laugh out loud (I'm a tough audience.)

Thanks. I needed that. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Ohioan]

Amen, Gail. Hoosier, I cracked up when I read your post. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Guffaws,
Phoebe

[Julie O]

Andrew,

Most of the stuff in that forwarded e-mail simply isn't true. It's another one of those great urban legends (although it is supposedly true that coke makes a great ham). Check out http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.htm.

[SusanL]

Funnybone and Sue K, we live outside of Reading and our water is the worst!! When we lived in Chester County; we had well water,the BEST! Bethlehem water had an odor to me, after drinking well water. Now in Berks, it is really nasty and very hard! My DH has the Cloister bottled water delivered. Fortunately, we have bottled water at school. It is hard to teach and drink enough water each day, can't drink all of that at night, I'd really be up all night http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif