bottled vs. tap, what do you think? X-Posted

Autumn&Ryan

I am putting this out there because higher than normal levels of arsenic were recently found in tap water in my small town. Very concerning! I drank that water while pregnant with two of my children, and they have drank it their whole lives up until about 1.5 years ago when we started getting the 5 gallon water cooler jugs. We only drink the water cooler water but I do cook with tap water and wonder if I should be concerned. We actually got the water cooler because we have a water softener and it tastes HORRIBLE, also I didn't like the idea of our water circulating through a machine before I drink it.
What does everyone drink, and why?
A friend of mine buys water buy the caseload at Costco (kirkland brand bottles) for her family but I think most people around here either drink tap, or have a well on their property...farms, ranches and all out of town homes.
I think I will stick with the 5 gallon jugs for now, I recently just switched to the BPA bottles that they offer, although I asked and they have no idea what those are made of and that concerns me a bit. They are made by a company called: HNH Packaging LLC and have a #7 on the bottom of the blue 5 gallon bottles.
Thanks ladies.

annerbones

I would be concerned. I would also be concerned with bathing in the water. What about having the water tested that comes into your house?

Charmed

I would invest in a good filter that filters out whatever is in your water. (an independent test would tell you which kind you need). There is no way to tell what is in bottled water since it isn't really regulated. That, and the plastic is supposed to be bad for you too. We are in the process of installing a reverse osmosis filter. Not everyone needs that level of filtering, but my advice is to first find out what is in your water and then invest in either a whole house system or an under the sink system for your drinking/cooking water. That is the only true way to KNOW what is in your water. Some filter systems have non-salt softening systems on them too.

Zen

I'm okay with tap but I wouldn't be if it was shown to be unsafe. In my last condo the water was supposedly safe but if I left a glass sitting out overnight, the water turned yellow. I only drank bottled when living there. But here ... the water is just water.

cAtWmN84

we drink dasani.i worry over tap all the time.

twicejess

I'd get your water tested before you do anything else. The house we lived in before was old and I was seriously afraid of the water for any use! We got it tested and it was fine.

Our house now is fine too but we use a filter just because it seems to taste a bit better?

I'd get it tested and move on from there!

Autumn&Ryan

We are moving in 2-3 months so I don't want to invest in an expensive filter but I might buy a new brita to use for the water I cook with.
Anyone know if water cycling through a water softener is bad for you?
What about the recycling labels, what does a #7 mean anyway?

cAtWmN84

@ Autumn&Ryan-thats a good idea about using the brita filtered water to cook with.we have really soft water and it tastes nasty.however we only have to use 1 teaspoon to wash out clothes so we save money that way

cAtWmN84

Charmed wrote:

I would invest in a good filter that filters out whatever is in your water. (an independent test would tell you which kind you need). There is no way to tell what is in bottled water since it isn't really regulated. That, and the plastic is supposed to be bad for you too. We are in the process of installing a reverse osmosis filter. Not everyone needs that level of filtering, but my advice is to first find out what is in your water and then invest in either a whole house system or an under the sink system for your drinking/cooking water. That is the only true way to KNOW what is in your water. Some filter systems have non-salt softening systems on them too.

i had know idea you could do that.i prefer water filtered by reverse osmosis,taste so much better

K&H

We grew up in a town with arsenic in the water, drinking the tap water, and we're all just fine. That being said, I would have the water tested in your home anyway.

The numbers on the bottles can give you and idea if they're the good plastics or the bad ones. The general rule is that the low numbers on one hand are the good ones, #1 - #5, except your middle finger, #3.. if you just remember that your middle finger means something not so great, you can easily remember which are the okay plastics. The others are supposedly the bad plastics.

LK

We drink bottled water but Becks pedi said not to give him bottled water because it is not regulated. I would have your water tested and go from there--just remember that bottled water does not normally have fluoride in it. We do give Beck mostly tap water but we do have a filter on water tank. If I knew that our water had ANY amount of arsenic in it I could not use it or give it to anyone to drink even if I was told it was safe!! Good luck!!

babybaby

ooooh! i didn't know about the arsenic concern. i DID drink bottled water until i started worrying about BPA. i recently switched to a brita pitcher (and i've been thinking about getting the brita bottle that you can carry with you for filtered tap water ANYWHERE! awesome!). i switched because i was worried about the BPA in plastic bottles, and also worried about the number of plastic bottles destroying the environment. i'd read that it takes more energy to recycle plastic bottles than it's worth, so it's pointless to even bother.

Shaeley Mae

I use a PUR filter at home for tap water, and bottled spring water at work (plastic type #1 only).

footprints

We have a water cooler with a 5 gallon BPA free water pitcher in our house, and a water filter on our faucet. We also drink bottle water if we are in public. I would have the water tested or buy a filter.