# Do you drink tap water? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215 "2014-06-06T18:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/61 "2014-06-07T11:24:07Z")
Our tap water tastes bad and has a lot of…something…in it that clogs up our showerhead and causes our faucets to need replacing periodically. Maybe crud from our old pipes, I don’t know. Smells funny too, and even the dogs don’t like to drink it until it has settled. We have a bunch of 5 gallon jugs we fill up at Walmart and we use that for drinking and making ice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/62 "2014-06-07T11:27:29Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > One of my sisters, tho, buys bags of ice … Our well water is delicious, but I buy bags of ice out of sheer laziness. They are cheap! ---
**Author:** ![abel29a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@abel29a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel29a)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/63 "2014-06-07T22:10:29Z")
Tap water wherever I go in Europe, unless specificly warned against it by locals/guides, or if the local water is to chlorinated or otherwise bad tasting. Africa/Asia - usually bottled, unless locals say it’s a-okay. (Never been to the Americas, but would prob. go tap in NA, bottle in SA). ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/64 "2014-06-07T22:28:59Z")
Yes. My husband worked for the local water department as the Assistant Manager of Operations and both my father and my step-father worked at the local water dept. when I was growing up (all in large mid-western cities). I have no worries about the local water supply. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Holdsworth_Effect)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/65 "2014-06-07T23:11:19Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > To me, water from a water fountain always taste better than water from the kitchen sink. > > Not sure why. I don’t know why either, but our kitchen sink has a water fountain on the far right where some people put a squirty thing. The actual faucet is extendable so we didn’t need that attachment. There’s a filter attached under the sink to the water fountain, as we have whole house filters for everything else. Our well is shallow. I dislike plastic waste. There’s enough of it here from the gallon juice bottles… Western Washington boonies- well and septic. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/66 "2014-06-07T23:47:47Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I live in the panhandle of Florida. I read the annual water quality report that my water utility (owned by the city, and therefore, the residents of the city) sends out every year. The water here is pretty clean, if that report is true, and I’m perfectly fine with it. So, yes, I drink the tap water here, no Brita filter or anything. > > Regarding the chlorine in the water. You know. This is a hurricane zone. And sometimes, during a storm like a hurricane, the water supply is compromised or cut off for whatever reasons. So residents are advised to keep gallon jugs of water on hand and be prepared to provide our own water for maybe up to three weeks or so. And when/if there’s a water contamination notice out there, there are two ways to purify water: 1. Boil it for a while. 2. Add some chlorine bleach. Just a little. Just enough to kill the bugs in it, but not enough to kill you. I am not terribly concerned about the other pollutants you mentioned because evidence of those would show up in the annual water quality report. How do you wash your hands when you don’t have tap water? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/67 "2014-06-08T06:37:47Z")
I cannot stand the taste of my tap water, so only drink bottled. I buy it by the gallon, and refill bottles from it. I miss the tap water in NYC, when I lived there. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/68 "2014-06-08T09:04:58Z")
I drink bottled only, as the stuff coming out of the tap is often salty and has come from a waste water filtration plant or desalination plant off the coast, or from underground and is contaminated. I do cook with tap water and have had no ill effects, but many here don’t even do that. Bottles of Nestle water come in 5 gallon containers and cost about 10 SAR (under $2). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/69 "2014-06-08T10:48:05Z")
I drink tap water and am not bothered by the flouride etc. I live in the Uk, where we have a Drinking Water Inspectorate to keep an eye on things. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/70 "2014-06-08T11:07:09Z")
We buy 5 gallon bottles from the local spring; at three dollars per bottle after deposit, it’s not particularly expensive. Our house is more than 250 years old, and it has tested for some lead content in the water. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vegetable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Space\_Vegetable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vegetable)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/71 "2014-06-08T14:40:04Z")
Pittsburgh tap water, carbon-filtered because my old house has lead pipes. (I’ve done testing to confirm that my filter is effective in removing that lead.) Like most places, we get an annual written report from the water company showing the levels of various stuff in the water. It’s fine, and tastes great too, especially with ice cubes (also made using filtered water). I carry around a plastic bottle of tap water too. > [@sara20](#): > > And do you think the chlorine they add to it tap water can effect your health. Sure it can affect your health. It has a positive effect by killing stuff that would otherwise be harmful. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/72 "2014-06-08T15:06:10Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > Do you drink tap water or bottled water? And are you concerned that tap water may have pesticide, fertilizer, rust, lead, copper, medications or other chemicals or harmful bacteria in it. And do you think the chlorine they add to it tap water can effect your health. Also have you tried the brita water filters that you can put on your tap and do you think they work and are worth the money. And please state what area you are in becasue some places (like NYC) have very good tap water and others do not. Yes, I drink tap water… even though there’s a filtered water dispenser on the fridge. There was _one_ time in the 10+ years I’ve lived here when there was a problem with the water. Someone ran into a hydrant and there was a break in the water main, and the water, once it started coming out of the tap again, was dirty for a couple of hours. I don’t think about the chlorine at all. Can’t smell it, can’t taste it. I’m more concerned about the fluorine, of which there isn’t any. There was a vote on whether to add it to the water, but people thought it was a Socialist Plot and it didn’t pass. At least I don’t have any kids whose teeth will rot later. I have a Brita pitcher around here somewhere. I used it sometimes when I lived in L.A. In actuality, the water in my L.A. apartment was very good. The Brita filter made little difference. I don’t use a filter here. The water is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. That filtered water in the fridge door? We took the filter out. No need for it. Were it not for the disconnected Point Roberts, I’m about as far northwest as you can be and still be in the Lower 48. As much as I like tea, it requires attention and time to make. Plus it gets cold before I finish the pot. I like beer, too; but I only have one every couple/three months. Around here I drink coffee, and I drink tap water. I love the water here. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/73 "2014-06-09T08:03:52Z")
> [@Space\_Vegetable](#): > > Pittsburgh tap water, carbon-filtered because my old house has lead pipes. (I’ve done testing to confirm that my filter is effective in removing that lead.) > > Like most places, we get an annual written report from the water company showing the levels of various stuff in the water. It’s fine, and tastes great too, especially with ice cubes (also made using filtered water). I carry around a plastic bottle of tap water too. > > Sure it can affect your health. It has a positive effect by killing stuff that would otherwise be harmful. Do you find that the carbon filter “strips” the water of all the minerals and salts? I knew someone who had one and they said it made them dehydrated drinking it becasue it took all the salt out of the water and it was almost like drinking distilled water. ---
**Author:** ![danhanegan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb9ed0/32.png) [@danhanegan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danhanegan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/74 "2014-06-09T09:00:00Z")
Bottled water is a scam. The notion that bottled water, which is almost completely unregulated, is somehow better for you than municipal water supplies, which are heavily regulated and frequently tested, is ridiculous. If you have serious concerns about your tap water, get a filter. Don’t switch to bottled water, there’s no telling what’s in that crap. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/75 "2014-06-09T10:56:35Z")
I drink well water. Much better than fluoridated water (gotta protect my bodily fluids) ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/76 "2014-06-09T14:16:53Z")
All tap all the time. I live in Louisville, KY. We have good water here. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/77 "2014-06-09T15:58:49Z")
I prefer seltzer water cuz of the fizzies, but I never, ever drink plain bottled water unless that’s the only thing available and I’m thirsty beyond toleration. We have very good tap water in New York. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/78 "2014-06-09T16:17:14Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I prefer seltzer water cuz of the fizzies, Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/79 "2014-06-09T18:01:19Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > We buy 5 gallon bottles from the local spring; at three dollars per bottle after deposit, it’s not particularly expensive. Our house is more than 250 years old, and it has tested for some lead content in the water. It sounds like you may have a valid reason for not drinking your tap water, but $5 for 3 gallons is quite expensive, relatively speaking. I drink municpal water and pay $4.85 per _thousand_ gallons. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215/80 "2014-06-09T20:09:12Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > Do you find that the carbon filter “strips” the water of all the minerals and salts? I knew someone who had one and they said it made them dehydrated drinking it becasue it took all the salt out of the water and it was almost like drinking distilled water. Drinking water can’t dehydrate you, no, not even distilled water. Distilled water is perfectly OK for drinking, although most people don’t find the taste appealing. People who go on with statements like that don’t know what they’re talking about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-tap-water/690215.md?page=5)