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I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

nytimes.com

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Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#2

Post by madaxe_again »

People are really funny about water. Recently had family visit us in Portugal, and they refused to drink the tap water anywhere - despite it being an EU country and complying with relevant standards, rigorously.

Then again, they also refused to drink our water at home, which I know is nothing but H2O, as we live off grid and it all goes through numerous filters before hitting the RO.

Then again, where they live (and drink the tap water), I also drink the tap water, because again, EU, safe - but it tastes like a swimming pool, as they dose it heavily with chlorine.

Each to their own.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#3

Post by mig39 »

madaxe_again wrote: post #2

People are really funny about water. Recently had family visit us in Portugal, and they refused to drink the tap water anywhere - despite it being an EU country and complying with relevant standards, rigorously. Then again, they also refused to drink our water at home, which I know is nothing but H2O, as we live off grid and it all goes through numerous filters before hitting the RO. Then again, where they live (and…

In Portugal, I tend to fill a big jug with tap water (which I know is safe, I watched them put in the treatment plant!), but then leave it in the fridge. After a bit of time, the chlorine just evaporates. So it's nice and cool.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#8

Post by username223 »

The fact that potable water is so cheap in the developed world that you can use a gallon of it to flush your toilet is a miracle of civilization. Filter it if that makes you feel better, but it's a waste of money, and a dismissal of a major achievement in public health.

But hey, at least it's not bottled water, which is basically tap water that has been put in a single-use plastic bottle and trucked across the country.

Re: I'm Wirecutter's water-quality expert. I don't filter my water

#9

Post by lagniappe »

Crye wrote: post #7
vsskanth wrote: post #4

It's mostly for taste at this point, rather than safety. For a long time I used to drink right from the tap, now use a filter pitcher simply because it tastes better.

does it taste better because of temperature, aeration?

lower TDS, less chlorine smell
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