Why is it so difficult to buy carbonated water?

Aldi USA generally doesn’t stock any sort of sparkling water. Many big full-line supermarkets do, but that’s not always convenient when driving or bicycling.

McDonald’s can nearly always be counted on to have a fountain that dispenses soda, though you generally have to slowly explain the concept to the counter help—unless he or she is Mexican and therefore familiar with agua mineral con gas. Many Burger Kings have fountains that are supposed to dispense plain soda water, but often they’re broken. Sbarro is another good bet; Taco Bell never ever.

Most supermarkets around here have Polar seltzer among the sodas (as well as their own house brands), plus San Pelligrino and Perrier in the bottled water aisle. Not hard to find at all.