London Food Reviewer says NO to Bottled Water

I think that it takes about 18 gallons of water to make the plastic bottle the water is sold in. Ridiculous.

Ok, enough is enough. After seeing how much plastic I had to throw out yesterday and reading this post, I've finally decided to switch to a water filter.

I googled "best water filter" and came across this site:
http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/Water_Filter_Comparison_Matrix.cfm

It's interesting to see how useless and overpriced those pitcher filters are.

Thanks for the Article! I needed the reminder to STOP! I cringe to think how much money I've wasted on bottled water. And worst,that I was contributing to polluting the Earth. I assumed these bottles were recycled.

By the way, Truthitude, I Googled "Doss Holdings", the company that "owns" the website and it opened directly to this website:

http://www.triptronix.net/ishbadiddle/archives/2006/02/24/11.09.27/

Whom can we trust?

LA: Thanks for the digging, I was going to toss my Brita.

Great article! You've inspired me to get off the fence and take a personal stand.

Where I live in Northern CA, there is a huge mistrust of tap water. If you order it in a restaurant, but the staff and your tablemates look at you like you're out of your mind for drinking toxins, or some kind of cheapskate.

To be honest, everyone and their mother sells water filtration systems here, and those are mostly marketed by making you terrified of the tap. In a reverse irony, the people that are supposed to be promoting health have deepened the trend of everyone buying water in plastic bottles.

Personally, I'll never buy Figi water again (duh!) and need to use my refillable Nalgene bottle more. It's so easy to get lazy and buy bottled. The consumption of all those imported mini-bottles is a huge problem that we need to revese. Thanks for the nudge.

We recently discovered the best way to avoid bottled water (while dining in an over-priced London restaurant!) - when the waiter says they don't serve tap water, tell them if they get tap water for you that you will put the price of bottled water towards their tip.

We got tap water, but it was served from a re-used mineral water bottle so as 'not to offend the other diners'!

"Mineral water is a preposterous vanity" Wow he has hit the nail on the head there! People only buy it cos they are rich enough to afford such conspicuous consumption. If you were desperate would you really think about paying 10000% more for the same product??

Thank God for bottled water. What else would I shower with?

Im here after this was featured on Digg.com

A recent article somewhere on the net detailing 10 geeky gifts to buy your loved ones for xmas, (that also saves you money) mentioned getting a sport bottle with built in filter! They did the maths and worked out within a few months you break even after all the money you save... just thought u should share

ive read in the news before that the best water comes from Mt. Fiji. I think it was Mariah Carey requesting shed like a bottled water from Mt. Fiji..

A friend of the family got one of these http://www.jupiterionizers.com/ a few years ago and in my opinion taste superior to 99% of all bottled water. I actually prefer it to evian--generally a decent tasting water. I'm pretty picky with my pallet, i know water is water is water, but not all water taste the same, many sources taste different, waters which come from real pumice or un-touched aquifers generally have a more refined taste. The idea is to drink water without any taste, just pure refreshment. I generally avoid pushing anything, but these types of water filters are much better than the cheap throw away type you buy at wal-mart or sears. Their technology is a Japanese import.

But evian is delicious.

:( ---

Totally agree! The water round my area is crap, but rather than buying bottled water I've been using a Britta filter. There's no way I could go back to 'regular' tap water now.

In my new house I'm getting a pre-tap filtration system, so I get pure clean water straight from the tap. Expensive, but worth every penny!

Has anyone who posted here actually tasted London tap water. I'm sure it's safe but to be blunt it tastes like it's recycled effluent which funnily enough is what it is. It has a dull chalky taste and has an off-putting odor. I don't drink bottled water much but I don't judge londoners who prefer it. It is the worst quality drinking water I have tasted in the developed world.

Wait, someone still thinks bottled water is better for them? I only buy it for the portability of the bottle and to refill it with tap water. Its not like i dont shower in tap water, wash and cook my food with tap water. If i eat out do i know if every establishment uses a water filter? Luckily i live over a very good glacial aquifer so i have to worry too much.

I don't believe bottled water is better, but I do keep a case of it in my car (I drive a lot, as I'm a delivery guy) for convenience. As in, I'm not paying for the water, I'm paying for the bottles.

I totally agree with the economic/ecological assessment here, but have to disagree that tap water or even filtered tap water comes anywhere close to bottled water.

I'm a normal 20-something guy, but I do love good tasting things. I don't have the money to spend on bottled water ALL the time, so I use my Brita pitcher at home.

Guess what? Brita tastes bad. (I add a squirt of lemon, religiously, to deal.)

When I have whatever ridiculous $2.99/8oz or whatever it is, I buy a Fiji water to treat myself. Have you tasted Fiji water? It tastes great! Or Volvic, from France? There's another totally different but wonderful taste. Similarly, Luso from Portugal is really tasty.

When I'm traveling in China, sorry, I don't drink the tap water and I don't bring my Brita pitcher with me. I buy bottled water. In fact, I buy tasty Volvic or Luso water instead of distilled water. Distilled water tastes like shit!

There's a reason 3 kajillion liters of bottled water have been consumed last year. It's an ecological shame, yes, but until the taste and convenience can be matched, it's not going anywhere.

For all the bottled water keeners, just do a few blind taste tests to see what you actually prefer. It's amazing what kind of placebo effect a good label and tag line can elicit. One of the top waters here was actually just a filtered version of municipal water. And some of the worst performing were the most expensive, although the bottles looked cool.

This :::

"...one of the “plastic patches” the size of Texas currently gyring in our oceans."

Anyone have further info? I've tried googling it half to death, but find nothing. Not that I want to, really...

Thanks,
Rick Lopez

Forgot to mention, here's a very entertaining article (from 2001) about water filters from quackwatch.org!

The Night I bought a Water Filter

Excellent story! Here are some valuable drinking water filtration
resources you can use in the future.

Solid carbon block technology is considered the most effective method
for reducing contaminants of health concern. In addition to the
removal of cysts, a solid carbon block filter also reduces:
· chemicals; MTBE, TCE
· pesticides;
· herbicides;
· disinfections byproducts;
· heavy metals;
· cysts; Crypto bug
· asbestos
· particulates
· chlorine.
. Arsenic

This is Chris Anderson,
I have been educating consumers & others in the drinking water field
for over 10 years.
How do you choose a water filter? What does the filter actually reduce
or remove? And finally what does it cost? These answers are found by
doing a little research or home work will call it. Doing such will
save you a lot of money and provide you with pure "healthy" drinking
water. The bottom line is you must get a Data Performance Sheet by the
NSF national sanitation foundation to compare filters. These "proof of
performance" sheets show exactly what the filter does and for how many
gallons. If you can't get one from the manufacturer or from who ever
is trying to sell you one, simply say no thanks!

Please visit my Water Filter Facts site and bookmark it for future use.

www.solidcarbonblock.NET

The direct link to view products, prices and gather more information is here.

www.multipureusa.com/canderson

NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company™, a
not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the world leader in
standards development, product certification, education, and
risk-management for public health and safety. For more than 59 years,
NSF has been committed to public health, safety, and protection of the
environment. While focusing on food, water, indoor air, and the
environment, NSF develops national standards, provides learning
opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and
provides third-party conformity assessment services while representing
the interests of all stakeholders. The primary stakeholder groups
include industry, the regulatory community, and the public at large.

Do your home work! Make a good choice for your drinking water needs.
Visit NSF below:
http://www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_treatment.asp?program=WaterTre

The Importance of Certification
In the last decade, interest in home water treatment products has
grown tremendously. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy for consumers
to know whether or not a particular product will actually be as safe
and effective as the manufacturer claims at reducing various
contaminants from your water supply.
NSF has a long history of developing and running independent product
testing programs. In fact, we are the leading independent tester of
home water treatment products on the market today. With our
state-of-the-art laboratories and highly skilled staff, we have the
knowledge and expertise to effectively evaluate water treatment
products, including:
Adsorption filters (i.e. carbon, charcoal, KDF, ceramic)
Reverse osmosis systems
Water softeners
Distillation systems
Ultraviolet disinfections products.
As an added assurance for consumers, NSF requires that all products
meet annual re-certification requirements. Unannounced plant
inspections and periodic retesting of all certified products are
required of all NSF-listed companies. This unique requirement allows
us to ensure that the products we certify continue to meet all stated
requirements year after year.

Note: NSF has tested & certified over 4000 different filters. It's
important to understand we have 400 plus manufacturers of water
filters alone world wide. Having said this "why" would you purchase a
water filter that is NOT tested & certified by NSF. It all comes down
to this: Talk is cheap and facts are hard to find in the drinking
water filtration industry! NSF is were you will get the facts.

Ultimately it comes down to this: What does the filter do & how much
does it cost?

NSF Data performance sheets is were to find "what it does".
Price: For a $1.00 a week you can have pure healthy drinking water. If
you are spending "more" it's costing you too much.

Ps. Should you have any questions in the drinking water field, please write.
waterfilters@gmail.com
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Chris Anderson Independent Distributor of Multipure Drinking Water
Systems #223193

Anyone have further info? I've tried googling it half to death, but find nothing. Not that I want to, really... Rick Lopez

Why Google when Treehugger will suffice:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/north_pacific_h.php

PS...to all the bottled-water-loving "foodies" out there...99.9% of the "taste" on your dinner table (or lunch or breakfast: it's the same table) is in the food. Worry about that, not the water. Part of having discerning taste is the ability to discern what's truly important. Water isn't.

Rick,

For more info on the plastic patches the LA Times has a really good special report on the oceans called Altered Oceans you can find it at:

http://www.latimes.com/oceans

Part 4 Has the information on the garbage patches swirling around in the oceans.

Rob

I posted this yesterday, but it doesn't seem to have got through, so here it is again...

Anyone have further info?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1940366,00.html

Old toothbrushes, beach toys and used condoms are part of a vast vortex of plastic rubbish the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, threatening sea creatures that get tangled in it, eat it or ride on it, says a Greenpeace report.

Here's direct link to the Greenpeace report mentioned in the article
http://www.greenpeace.to/publications_pdf/plastic_ocean_report.pdf

Personally I use a SIGG hikers bottle to drink tap water from constantly. The water at my office kitchen is kinda suspicious - a little yellow and many particles floating around in it, but luckily the common toilet/washroom has clean water- so we use that for coffee and filling our bottles.
I assume the water from the tap is fine now. I had thought- a few years ago - that the water smelled a bit like chlorine, but now I don't notice it. I drank cheap bottled water then - but, man, it was too expensive a habit to keep.

Is there any sort of home tap water tester out on the market? I mean- maybe we just think the water isn't good, when it actually is?

tap water tastes like chlorine and florine. In florida it just tastes like horrible. In texas it tastes like dirt. In tokyo I can't even describe it. I would pay a few extra bucks to drink some cleaner water than spend it on soda or energy drinks which cost more and are worse for you.

I don't care about the environment, sorry. But I usually drink that ozone filtered water or whatever that's about 39 cents a gallon and only buy bottled water when I'm out of reach from my dispenser of "ozone filtered water or whatever".

The human body is composed of lots of water, one person needs to consume about 2 liters a day so 3 billion is actually nothing although the water market gets a ton of money from a tiny fraction. It's easy to make money from something that's vital, and people enjoy looking sophisticated, it's like a fashion statement. "I'm drinking better water because I have the ability to notice that tap water tastes bad in my region."

Tap water includes florine so that teeth become whiter. Chlorine is used to clean the water. It's not an accident that it tastes that way.

I refuse to go back to that awful tap water and will continue to give my pet dog, Mookie the higher quality bottled water . What country do we live in, where we can't choose what type of water to consume. We both use bottled water, and if it's good for me it has to be good for my dog.
So you waternistas know what you can do.

Tap water tastes horrible where I live. Get over yourselves. I'm not about fashion statements. I live in a rural city.

I drink bottled water because it tastes good and doesn't have stuff floating in it.

You request I 'post an intelligent and civil comment.' You're a retard. Your article was neither intelligent nor civil. I'm not aware of the snobby people you mention that drink bottled water to show off. My guess is they're accountable for less than %1 of the population who drinks bottled water.

This blog came up when I typed a google search for Ozone tastes like dirt. I live in China and I have to drink bottled water or from a dispenser. The tap water tastes like dirt. Just recently I had jug of water put in the dispenser and it also tastes like dirt. (the last one didn't)

I'm wondering if the water sellers are tring to cheat by putting in tap water. It tastes exactly the same. I want to test it, but I can't find the resources to. When we called the company and asked why our water tasted like dirt they said, because they had to add more ozone.

I need to go out and buy some bottled water right now, because all that is available to me is this nasty tasting dirt water.

You know China is really cool about recycling. There are people that scour the streets and trash bins for pieces to recycle, they are pretty good at keeping the streets clean from trash.

There´s a study (pdf) about tapwater vs. bottled mineral water from Hildon - I think it´s worth reading - check it out here:
http://www.hildon.com/uploads/files/AStatementfromHILDON.pdf