uptowngirl
uptowngirl

Water Water everywhere

In a city where there a plethora of designer waters available and which once had the world's water sommelier at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Battery Park (http://blog.timesunion.com/dowdondrinks/recalling-the-ritz-carltons-aquaman/2543/), do you imbibe the city's finest straight out of the faucet or do you filter or boil the liquid or do you do neither but buy tons of bottled water( quelle horreur!)

Having grown up in a culture where tap water was not potable, I boil my water to the amusement of friends who laugh and tell me that I am boiling impurities and it makes no difference to the quality of water and if I really want to be particular I should use a Brita filter.I wonder what the water drinking habits of other new yorkers are?
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
I just drink from the tap. I'm cheap like that (and a water sommelier? REALLY?) But I'm used to it, at this point. I occasionally fill up an Evian bottle with tap and refrigerate it - I like it nice and cold...
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
It's a well-known fact that NYC drinking water is of very good quality, because it comes from an underground reservoir that flows down from upstate. Saw a documentary on this once, and remember thinking, well at least that one's a boon, since I have to battle cockroaches and other yucky things daily. Anyway, here are more options for information about reservoir levels and quality:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/index.shtml

The New York Public Library had an excellent exhibit up recently about the reservoir system, but I think it's gone now.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I don't take chances. I have bottled water and also drink out of the tap. It depends on where I am at the time.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
I guess I am the weird one I boil my water at home and ask for tap at restaurants !
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Hey, uptowngirl, you do what you believe in. You do what is necessary. If it is a practice in your culture to do it, go with it. If you do it for safety reasons, don't let anyone tell you different. You are only trying to protect yourself and your family.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I'm laughing at this, uptowngirl, since I think NYC water is one of the few cities' water that you don't have to boil. But if it makes you feel better...It really is good drinking water. I'll have to do some research and come up with some solid proof to set your mind at ease on this point.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I would love to read what you find out, Uraniumfish. Whatever you find, I am sure will be educational and informative.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish I await your post :)
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@uptowngirl Here's a write-up on the water quality in NYC on wikipedia. I know it's only Wikipedia, but it summarizes and cites the Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_New_York_City#Water_supply

And here's the most recent report, published in 2007. I think a new one is due out soon:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstate07.pdf

Hope this sets your mind at ease!
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
Here's a somewhat more recent report from 2008. I admit I didn't pay a lot of attention back in Chemistry class at school, but the substances that the city does add to the water, like chlorine and fluoride wouldn't be affected one way or another by boiling water. Actually, boiling water only kills bacteria in the water, if there is a lot of bacteria, but it wouldn't affect the level of heavy metals, for example. In NYC's case, there aren't a lot of bacteria or a lot of heavy metals either, so we can all consider ourselves very lucky!

http://nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstate08.pdf
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
Thanks for the information, DBlack and Uraniumfish. How strange to think that something as seemingly simple as clean water varies so widely across the US.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Hey, thanks Uraniumfish and DBlack. I appreciate the links. It goes to show that NYC water is safer than we give credit for.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
Thanks uraniumfish and Dblack maybe I will start by filling my sipper bottle with tap water for my workout tomorrow morning.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Maybe now I can ease up on buying so much bottled water.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted if you don't your neighborhood environmentalist will chase you down the street with a broom :) :):)
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@uptowngirl: Funny. :) :) I like your sense of humor.
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
That was such a plus for me when I moved here! No more giant bottle lugging! Just a little Brita filter replacement (bc old habits die hard) and I'm ready to go! New York water is great.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Yeah, and for goodness sake I hope it doesn't get ruined in some way, like a chemical spill or something tragic.
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
I buy a lot of water bottles but reuse them by filling them up with tap water. I don't keep them long though, as I hear it's not great to keep reusing the bottles forever. Boiling the water seems a little extreme, though, especially when the tap water won't harm you in the least!
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