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How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

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Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#51

I used to drink bottled water exclusively, mainly because I thought the taste was unambiguously better. However, three things got me to switch to using filtered tap water. #1) having to carry multiple gallons from the store to the car to the house was getting to be a chore. given the amount of water of i drank, it was a headache. now that i've switched to filtered tap water, it's so much easier. #2) i received a broc…

Same here. Also, when at a restaurant squeeze a lemon (or lime) wedge into your water to help handle odd tastes.

I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#52
post #51

I used to drink bottled water exclusively, mainly because I thought the taste was unambiguously better. However, three things got me to switch to using filtered tap water. #1) having to carry multiple gallons from the store to the car to the house was getting to be a chore. given the amount of water of i drank, it was a headache. now that i've switched to filtered tap water, it's so much easier. #2) i received a broc…

Same here. Also, when at a restaurant squeeze a lemon (or lime) wedge into your water to help handle odd tastes. I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean.

> I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean.

Why are you eating there if you can't trust them to provide clean food?

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#53
post #52
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same here. Also, when at a restaurant squeeze a lemon (or lime) wedge into your water to help handle odd tastes. I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean.

> I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean. Why are you eating there if you can't trust them to provide clean food?

Former barkeeper here: usually the limes and lemons are bought as-is-available, which usually means mass-produced stuff laced with pesticides. Organic fruits are, due to their higher price, normally only available in hipster places.

The rind is not considered edible in any way, and the pesticides don't migrate through the rind. Which is, btw, a good reason to rinse any fruit or vegetable (prior to USE, not directly after you get home from shopping!!!) and also wash your hands afterwards so you don't ingest the toxins via your skin.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#54
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would avoid dropping the wedge into the water since you have no idea if the rind is clean. Why are you eating there if you can't trust them to provide clean food?

Former barkeeper here: usually the limes and lemons are bought as-is-available, which usually means mass-produced stuff laced with pesticides. Organic fruits are, due to their higher price, normally only available in hipster places. The rind is not considered edible in any way, and the pesticides don't migrate through the rind. Which is, btw, a good reason to rinse any fruit or vegetable (prior to USE, not directly a…

Never mind pesticides; rinds are great places for bacteria to grow. Peel all fruits and vegetables.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#55
post #49
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A container? Like a coffee cup? Were do you work, that doesn't have running water? (And no toilets, I presume?)

A water bottle container with a closed lid that is refillable and washable. I would rather not drink out of a coffee cup with stale coffee flavor leftover in the bottom. Yes we have water but I dont like getting up every 10-15 mins to grab a single sip of water from a water fountain. So I go to the vending machine and grab a Dasani bottle I refill for about a week.

I certainly hope you have washable coffee cups too...

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#56
post #55
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A water bottle container with a closed lid that is refillable and washable. I would rather not drink out of a coffee cup with stale coffee flavor leftover in the bottom. Yes we have water but I dont like getting up every 10-15 mins to grab a single sip of water from a water fountain. So I go to the vending machine and grab a Dasani bottle I refill for about a week.

I certainly hope you have washable coffee cups too...

Actually no we dont have the machine or materials to wash a coffee cup in my floor's kitchen.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#57
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they were flexible enough to be collapsed then shipping and storage would be significantly cheaper than bottled water too.

It's been done (not $0.25, though): http://grrrltraveler.com/top-packing-tips/vapur-water-bottle...

Good point. I've had a couple Platepuses for a while, but I hate to clean them. Would be nice to have a cheap recyclable solution for on the go when you forget your normal bottle.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#58

I know expecting rigorous science from an entertainment program is always asking a bit much, but the Penn & Teller gourmet-water prank always struck me as flawed given the social dynamics at play. Most people in that situation are going to feel some social pressure to acknowledge some sort of qualities in what they are being served, whether from fear of appearing unsophisticated or simply out of a desire to be polite…

In my experience, much of the pleasurable taste of gallon-jug-water comes from the fact that it's refrigerated, rather than from any intrinsic properties of the water's chemical composition. A glass of tap water left in the fridge for a while will also come out tasting 'fresher'.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#59
In the northeast in PA/NJ, tap water has had a distinct taste, presumably from the high calcium content. My experience with tap water in Orlando, Florida also had a very distinct odor to it. Thus bottled water it is.

For filtering, I just got one of the iSpring reverse osmosis units to filter water for me. It tastes equivalent to the other bottled water brands while being appreciably cheaper than bottled water.

Re: How Drinking Bottled Water Became a Thing

#60

I know expecting rigorous science from an entertainment program is always asking a bit much, but the Penn & Teller gourmet-water prank always struck me as flawed given the social dynamics at play. Most people in that situation are going to feel some social pressure to acknowledge some sort of qualities in what they are being served, whether from fear of appearing unsophisticated or simply out of a desire to be polite…

It's been pretty well documented that presentation affects the perception of taste. Adding some fancy adjectives (and possibly a fancy price) to the menu can make people perceive the food as tasting better. I believe it's been shown to work with wine too. So it's not surprising that the same thing can happen with water.

I've actually assimilated this effect and consciously appreciate how certain craft beer labels affect my perception of the taste. There's a local brew I explicitly enjoy more from a 12oz bottle than on tap because of its package design.
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