Re: Ban bottled water!
 

Bring back the days when you could get 10p if you took your empty pop bottles back to the shop.

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

Where I live, the tap water is really quite nice as it is. Add the fact that mine is filtered and chilled (drinking water goes through my fridge) and I am used to about as nice as you'll get without buying mineral water. In certain bits of the country when I'm away for work (mainly up north and in London) the unfiltered tap water is absolutely rank in comparison, to the point I won't drink it (and wouldn't unless I was really thirsty). I usually only drink bottled water in these situations, or if it's unavailable, coke/fruit juice/whatever, which is even worse for the environment. I'm sure hotels intentionally don't filter drinking water taps in rooms in order to sell more mineral water. The only time I drink bottled water in the house is a couple of times a year I'll have San Pellegrino. It really is the most refreshing drink on a hot day, even more so than a cold pint of a summer's evening and tastes much better than any other water I've had. It's like a fine wine. The glass it comes in is always recycled and if they offered a bottle return service, I'd do that instead. On the subject of bottled water, why the hell is plastic so popular for bottling it? It makes the water taste rubbish, is worse for the environment. Reused glass bottles are much better. I blame the health and safety brigade. Also, bear in mind that you can keep unopened bottled water far longer than a flask etc. Handy to keep in the car for when at accidensts/just if you get stuck out in extreme weather or when the shops are shut.

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

Part of the problem I think is the variety of tastes that you can get from tap water. e.g. Depending on where you live, the water will come from either aquifers (below ground springs) or rivers. Due to the nature of the different ground which covers this country, you can get different tasting water depending on where you live.
I for example used to live in Sheffield - great tasting water - I moved to Cornwall a couple of years ago, and didnt like the taste, however I've got used to it, and its fine now...

Thats probably why some people don't like tap water when they travel around the country - it just tastes different. Also, hotels tend to have quite large internal plumbing systems, and the turnover can be low depending on which room you stay in - always run the tap till its cold to make sure you get 'fresh' water.

oh, and depending on where you live in relation to where the water is treated, it will have varying amounts of chlorine in it - also altering the taste..., not even mentioning if a softener is used too...

BB.

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

Carbon filters (generally used in fridge filters and brita etc) are generally effective for removing excess chlorine from the water, and some sediment too. If your water has a high chlorine level, this may make it taste nicer - however, its worth bearing in mind that chlorine is there to kill off any nasty bugs, hence making the water safe to drink. If you don't replace your filters regularly, bacteria growth can form within the filter, therby contaminating what was, safe clean drinking water. Carbon filters to use a number of additives to prevent the growth of bacteria, but they can only prevent it so far.

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

http://www.vernoncoleman.com/drugsinourdrinking.htm

Truth in this?

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

I think his argument is flawed - lets say for the sake of argument that some drug residue does get passed though urine, and goes through the sewage treatment works, and ends up in rivers, which is then abstracted again for drinking water. The dilution of this effluent would be massive. It would literally be a drop in the ocean, in comparison to what it was being discharged into...

I am sure that there is some truth in it, but there is no mention of the levels detected, thereby quantifying the risk.

To be honest, I would be more worried about pesticides and herbicides which are collected as water falls on fields, and then finds its way into rivers, streams and reservoirs...but even then, the concentrations are low, and if deemed a risk, are removed as part of the treatment process.

Re: Ban bottled water!
 

Yep, you have to look at the lack of water analysis and ask why I think. Also, whenever I see a sensational looking piece of writing I ask what the writer is selling- luckily in this case, you don't have to ask since he manages to plug his books twice :rolleyes: