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We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

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Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#141

Post by mironathetin »

zapdrive wrote: post #131
mironathetin wrote: post #129

Here in Germany, water is the best protected good that we have - maybe apart from beer :o) - and that is as it should be. It usually tastes good and I use it all the time (stopped buying bottled water long ago). In a bar or restaurant, tap water has to be free. They don't like that and try to sell you more expensive stuff, but the law requires free water. Great, isn't it? I was indeed shocked by the amount of chlorin…

There is no water fountain at the Munich airport.

"There is no water fountain at the Munich airport"

True and not necessary. You may go to the restrooms and use the tap there. Sound a bit weird, but the water is as pure as everywhere else (make sure the tap is clean) and as the water flows more or less non stop, it is even very cold.

We usually refill our empty bottles there after security.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#142

Post by efdee »

provemewrong wrote: post #118
JupiterMoon wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I do like the fact that you can get free water almost everywhere, there was often a large can and cups on the bar, free to take. Here a tap water is sometimes as expensive as a beer (in a bar obviously). Wow in most of Europe this would not be legal. Are you sure your local laws allow this?

How can selling water at a commercial establishment be illegal? Bottled water industry would be out of business, as some of them are known to resell tap water too. I'm from Europe too, by the way, and don't see the big deal. I'd say around here it's pretty split - around a half of places will offer free water, and a half will offer it for money (not for beer prices though).

It's not that selling tap water is illegal per se, it's just that you are required to offer tap water for free as well (at least in some countries).

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#143

Post by jberryman »

teekert wrote: post #106

I always drink tap water here in the Netherlands, in the US where I have been (Houston, New Orleans, Boston, Long Beach) the water just tastes like it came from a swimming pool. So much chlorine, I couldn't drink it. In San Fransisco it was relatively ok though, still a faint chlorine taste but drinkable. I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net but I certainly switch to bottled…

> I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net

I don't think that's what you're noticing. Water distribution tends to be pretty localized, and taste can vary quite a lot in different cities and regions depending on how it's treated and where it comes from. Be sure to taste the water in New York City if you get to visit; it's very tasty.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#144

Post by bergie »

zapdrive wrote: post #131
mironathetin wrote: post #129

Here in Germany, water is the best protected good that we have - maybe apart from beer :o) - and that is as it should be. It usually tastes good and I use it all the time (stopped buying bottled water long ago). In a bar or restaurant, tap water has to be free. They don't like that and try to sell you more expensive stuff, but the law requires free water. Great, isn't it? I was indeed shocked by the amount of chlorin…

There is no water fountain at the Munich airport.

There is free coffee, though ☺

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#145

Post by marincounty »

teekert wrote: post #106

I always drink tap water here in the Netherlands, in the US where I have been (Houston, New Orleans, Boston, Long Beach) the water just tastes like it came from a swimming pool. So much chlorine, I couldn't drink it. In San Fransisco it was relatively ok though, still a faint chlorine taste but drinkable. I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net but I certainly switch to bottled…

I have to stick up for the taste of San Francisco water; To me it tastes really good? Not as good as Marin County water, but good. The best water I have ever tasted is Water from Lake Tahoe. As a kid, my dad used to take us to this cabin, and even as kids--we really liked the taste of that mineral water. The worst water I have had is San Diego water. (These are familiar places if you live in CA.)

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#146

Post by MrJagil »

jberryman wrote: post #143
teekert wrote: post #106

I always drink tap water here in the Netherlands, in the US where I have been (Houston, New Orleans, Boston, Long Beach) the water just tastes like it came from a swimming pool. So much chlorine, I couldn't drink it. In San Fransisco it was relatively ok though, still a faint chlorine taste but drinkable. I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net but I certainly switch to bottled…

> I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net I don't think that's what you're noticing. Water distribution tends to be pretty localized, and taste can vary quite a lot in different cities and regions depending on how it's treated and where it comes from. Be sure to taste the water in New York City if you get to visit; it's very tasty.

I really disagree. Coming from Denmark, having lived in NYC for 6 months, it was exactly as the parent described it: As if drinking out of a swimming pool. Further, even the salads at restaurants could taste terrible because of the water they used to rinse it.

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#147

Post by dogma1138 »

david-given wrote: post #125
dogma1138 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are water fountains in every airport in Europe (and pretty much the world, it's regulatory) they are usually located in or near the restrooms. Not to mention that pretty much every restaurant will give you tap water for free.

...except the London airports; my father is one of the Inner Circle of people who know there the only water fountain in Gatwick is. (I've never found it.) I'm in Zürich now. There are water fountains everywhere. I believe you're never further than 100m from one, anywhere in the city? The water quality is superb --- better than most bottled water, they say --- and they run off their own distribution network, which mea…

Heathrow drinking fountains near every toilet http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF...

http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF...

Luton don't have nice maps for it but... http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/faq/6/147/do-you-have-publi...

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#148

Post by dogma1138 »

JadeNB wrote: post #75
dogma1138 wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Name any commercial or international airport without water fountains.

I don't know how it is these days, but the last time I flew through London (maybe 5–7 years ago), I had to connect from LHR to LGW. In one of them (I think LGW), I went searching for a water fountain and couldn't find one. I finally asked an employee, who told me there weren't any.

Not true... LHR has them in every toilet

http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/Heathrow/Downloads/PDF...

Gatwick: "once you're through security, you can use our water fountains or any of our food outlets will be happy to provide you with a glass of tap water."

http://www.gatwickairport.com/at-the-airport/flying-out/secu...

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#149

Post by MrJagil »

JupiterMoon wrote: post #114
teekert wrote: post #106

I always drink tap water here in the Netherlands, in the US where I have been (Houston, New Orleans, Boston, Long Beach) the water just tastes like it came from a swimming pool. So much chlorine, I couldn't drink it. In San Fransisco it was relatively ok though, still a faint chlorine taste but drinkable. I understand the difficulty of maintaining such a large water distribution net but I certainly switch to bottled…

> I do like the fact that you can get free water almost everywhere, there was often a large can and cups on the bar, free to take. Here a tap water is sometimes as expensive as a beer (in a bar obviously). Wow in most of Europe this would not be legal. Are you sure your local laws allow this?

Well, I can only speak for Denmark, but here you are obliged by law to give water to anyone who asks. At certain restaurants though (the Louisiana museum for instance), the waiter will sometimes politely refer you to the bathroom if you ask for (free) tap water (hinting you should buy it from the restaurant).

Reason being most restaurants earn their money from beverages (especially wine).

Re: We don’t trust drinking fountains anymore, and that’s bad for our health

#150

Post by provemewrong »

nsomaru wrote: post #122
provemewrong wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can selling water at a commercial establishment be illegal? Bottled water industry would be out of business, as some of them are known to resell tap water too. I'm from Europe too, by the way, and don't see the big deal. I'd say around here it's pretty split - around a half of places will offer free water, and a half will offer it for money (not for beer prices though).

Not sure if it's illegal here, but in South Africa restaurants are expected to serve you tap water if you ask for it. Doing otherwise would be rude, and most waiters (even at pubs) will clarify if you want 'bottled or tap' and 'with ice and lemon.' I have noticed a strange phenomenon in Europe too, please forgive me if I'm generalising as I'm aware it's a big place, but people there seem like they won't do something…

Sounds like a cool place to live. Over here a plumber will give you a consultation, but regarding delivery, if you live at an appartment the delivery guy will deliver to the building, if you want it delivered to the doors of your appartment, it will cost extra, per floor. Installation will probably be additional expenses. Sure some retailers offer full delivery and installation for free (or included in price), but then it will be explicitly stated.
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