So, what should we drink?
I always just drink tap water and find it better tasting than bottled. But I guess that varies by where you live. Do most people in the US drink 100% bottled?
Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
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Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#122[deleted]
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#123Went looking to see what the comparison to tap water was: > Orb found on average there were 10.4 particles of plastic per litre that were 100 microns (0.10 mm) or bigger. This is double the level of microplastics in the tap water tested from more than a dozen countries across five continents, examined in a 2017 study by Orb that looked at similar-sized plastics. Worse... it's worse than tap water.
In at least a couple of European countries it is well known that unless your city has specific problems tap water is better than bottled water. The reason being that (except some cases of corruption...) legal limit are much stricter for tap water. Better in impurities at the very least, the taste is usually quite worse.
Bottled water is also usually just tap water .. at a 1000% markup. You're paying for tap water plus some plastic.
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#124Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd say all of Germany is culturally very much ok with drinking tap water, Berlin not much more or less than other regions. People who drink bottled water here don't usually do it because they think it's "better" than tap water, it's either because of convenience when you're not home or because they like carbonated water (which is very popular in Germany).
A lot of the buildings in Berlin have very old pipes and while the water to the building is alright, we (in Berlin) have to rely mainly on glass bottles of water (bismark) as if you don’t run the taps enough there’s a nice colour that comes out...
I've lived in a few places in Berlin over the years, I've never seen anything but nice clear water come out of the tap (whether at my place or friend's flats). Granted, it's hard water (lots of calcium) but other than that it's perfectly fine. Pipes as bad as you're describing definitely exist but I'd say they're the exception, not the rule.
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#125And I should care about this why exactly? They haven't been found to be harmful to humans. Best I can tell we just poop it all out. This has all the hallmarks of a manufactured crisis that's not actually a crisis.
There's a concerning increase of colon cancer (not a fake increase because of better detection) and researchers have no idea why it is happening. Microplastics need to be ruled out.
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#126Went looking to see what the comparison to tap water was: > Orb found on average there were 10.4 particles of plastic per litre that were 100 microns (0.10 mm) or bigger. This is double the level of microplastics in the tap water tested from more than a dozen countries across five continents, examined in a 2017 study by Orb that looked at similar-sized plastics. Worse... it's worse than tap water.
Tap water in the developed world is really really good. You can measure a country by the ability of that nation to provide clean water to people. Municipal water supplies in cities like Atlanta and Cincinnati are often tested 200~300 times per month at several pumping and maintenance locations. Bottled water is a scam, and it also is a resources that's often extracted from poor countries and communities. The document…
>Bottled water is a scam, and it also is a resources that's often extracted from poor countries and communities
Are you sure about this? My impression is that the price/weight ratio of bottled water is way to low to make any sense to not bottle them in close proximity, so "extracted from poor countries" doesn't sound plausible.
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
In at least a couple of European countries it is well known that unless your city has specific problems tap water is better than bottled water. The reason being that (except some cases of corruption...) legal limit are much stricter for tap water. Better in impurities at the very least, the taste is usually quite worse.
Living in Germany/Berlin and can confirm. Our tap water is excellent and is way cleaner than all bottled water you can buy. Keep in mind, bottled water is also kept around way longer and has the time to „breed“. In tests, the tap water is consistently less contaminated. I recommend everyone to just stick to it. As an anecdote: you can let your tap water be tested for free if you have a newborn to ensure and confirm t…
Berlin, of course, has a website in English language with all the information regarding tap water:
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#128Plastic found in water contained in a plastic bottle. Not really shocked.
I used to think the same thing, But I've seen reports recently that these levels are in rain water and tap water as well. The particles are just in the water cycle now it seems. Looking forward to more information.
What I don't get is how do the microplastics get to the clouds. Do they evaporate like water?
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#129Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, just the vast majority of the US (geographically and population wise) has incredibly good tap water, with a long tail of famously bad exceptions to the rule.
63 million people is a really, really long tail.
Where did you get 63 million?
The third link from GP has a headline which reads “360,000 Californians have unsafe drinking water. Are you one of them?”
That’s approximately 1% of CA’s population. That’s not even a long tail.
Re: Microplastics found in 93% of bottled water tested in global study
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
In at least a couple of European countries it is well known that unless your city has specific problems tap water is better than bottled water. The reason being that (except some cases of corruption...) legal limit are much stricter for tap water. Better in impurities at the very least, the taste is usually quite worse.
Living in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, I can confirm that our water is extremely clean and good to drink. Additionally our city was rated one of the best tasting tap waters for all of Ontario, cities literally compete for quality water. Contrast that to Flint michigan across the river from me.
Best tasting or least tasting? (Since water is tasteless...)