treehugger.com— Can we drink the water in New York City? The answer is a resounding yes. How does it taste? Many New Yorkers say they drink bottled water because it tastes better, but ABC's 20/20 did a blind taste test.
Apr 17, 2006View in Crawl 4
I disagree. I have no scientific facts to go on, but I do know that every time I try to make tea with microwaved water it just doesn't work. It seems to cool down a lot faster or something. Maybe it's the size of the container that does it.
Either that or they live in a place where the tap water is nasty like my home town. The city water is full of chlorine and the well water is full of iron (which I've heard can be pretty bad for you) and other minerals. Both taste like absolute crap. Oh, and forget about trying to make decent coffee or tea with it.
Just because you see someone walking around NYC with a bottle of Poland Spring or Aquafina water does not mean they are actually drinking Poland Spring or Aquafina. I have a couple of Poland Spring bottles I've been using for about 2 years now- I just put tap water in them every day and bring them to work, the gym, etc. The bottles were cheaper and weighed less than a real sports bottle- and at the end of the day if they get ruined I can just recycle them :)
Well my take on it is that, yes some times bottled water can "taste" better, but it depends. And the study on 20/20 had them drink a cap full of water, which i dont think is enough for your body to notice a difference. Personlally, i think that it is the way that the water well... like... flows, if you know what i mean.
I personally like Detroit City water better than any bottled water. In fact, there's several companies that bottle water from the Detroit River, including Aquafina. Detroit was even thinking of bottling it's own water as a way to make money. According to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, "Tests comparing Detroit water with a half-dozen bottled waters -- including Evian and Aquafina -- have found that the city's water is just as good -- and in some cases better -- than what you buy in the store, water department officials say."It's also safer: "Unlike the city's water department, the bottled water industry is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Water Quality Control Division of the state."<a class="user" href="http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/102202_great_lakes1.htm">http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/102202_great_lakes1.htm</a>
With all due respect due to the writer this brings up two very important and salient issues. How do we define fancy? How do we define pretending? The definition of fancy as defined by Websters is as follows: made, designed, grown, adapted, etc., to please the taste; of superfine quality or exceptional appeal. Now one could argue that ones interpretation of what is or is not fancy is entirely predicated on one's environment and social conditions; what one is accustomed to experiencing on a daily basis. In a city like New York, a city of unlimited options and seemingly an unfathomable exposure to things, a resident of that particular and very specific subculture may have a much different interpretation of the notion of what is or is not fancy. I am not entirely convinced that what someone who is a resident of a more suburban or rural area considers fancy would be interpreted as such in a place like New York City.Also, it is important to look at the writer's usage of the word pretending. Many people who do not travel nor posses a worldview tend to view their own subculture as the dominant subculture in which all other subcultures are judged against. The problem with this social problem is that all subcultures define reality by it's own terms and conditions that are entirely unique to that particular subculture. When someone, seemingly lacking in a worldview is encountered with values that are not in lockstep alignment with the social, behavioral or intellectual parameters of their own frame of reference things tend to be interpreted as otherness or falseness. When people like this are confronted with cultural or social behaviors they have no true concept of it is most often interpreted as pretending simply because there is no true endeavor to comprehend the judged person's own unique interpretation to reality as it exists within the cultural, behavioral, social and intellectual parameters of that person's own subculture.In English, what I am saying is that if someone exhibits values or behaviors slightly different from yours they are not false people but merely living in a way that is accordance to the very true reality of their environment. One should do the intellectual legwork to realize this notion before promulgating an evaluation of something one has no concept of.One can say that New yorkers are not pretending to be fancy , but, they are fancy. I don't think attempts are being made to be fancy. I think that the normal everyday life of a New Yorker may be interpreted as fancy by others but I would hasten to say that this is an affected effort. Everyone is a product of their environment after all.As a resident of New York City, I do not drink the tap water unless I am at home, at work or in a restaurant. The other times I drink bottled. The reason for this and I think for many New Yorkers, is that New Yorkers spend a tremendous amount of time outside of their apartments walking. This makes one want to drink more water but not necessarily want to carry around a gallon jug through the city. It is much easier to buy a bottle, drink it, throw it away and then buy another. The average New Yorker walks four miles per day and It is a much lighter load to carry around all day when you deal with one bottle a a time. Also, I make a very generous salary as do allot of New Yorkers and I don't think that the expense is an issue. I also don't know of any New Yorkers who would consider bottled water to be fancy. You have to be a peasant to think that. When you make $200,000.00 per year and there are places to buy bottled water on every corner it may as well be free water at arms reach at all times. This changes one's perspective. The operative word being perspective.One must make an effort to understand another's culture before commenting on it. For instance, if someone from New York City comes to visit you and you invite him or her to Applebee's and they refuse stating that is a bland and mediocre choice. Are they pretending to be fancy or are they in all realness and sincerity meaning what they say and saying what they mean without any affectation or attempt at fanciness. Think about it. With an accessibility to experience like no other city in the world, a New Yorker is going to inevitably raise the bar on him or herself so to speak simply because raising the bar on oneself in NYC is not only so damn easy, but infinitely pleasurable, even with a "gasp" bottled water in hand.
Hi! I operate a certified water testing lab that was referenced as a good place to have your water tested by J. Romano of the N.Y. Times. Consequently, we ended up testing a LOT of water from folks in New York City. Overall, we found the water to be of excellent quality with respect to bacteria, metals, and inorganic constituents. Any problems with individual water was usually caused from poor or degraded distribution pipes. So, for N.Y. City water, I say, - "Cheers!"Scott Bradley ( H2O4U)
bpapaApr 18, 2006
In that area, Pizza 33 I Think it's called. It's at the corner of 33rd and 3rd. Great pizza.
spectre_25gtApr 18, 2006
I disagree. I have no scientific facts to go on, but I do know that every time I try to make tea with microwaved water it just doesn't work. It seems to cool down a lot faster or something. Maybe it's the size of the container that does it.
spectre_25gtApr 18, 2006
Either that or they live in a place where the tap water is nasty like my home town. The city water is full of chlorine and the well water is full of iron (which I've heard can be pretty bad for you) and other minerals. Both taste like absolute crap. Oh, and forget about trying to make decent coffee or tea with it.
sirketApr 18, 2006
Just because you see someone walking around NYC with a bottle of Poland Spring or Aquafina water does not mean they are actually drinking Poland Spring or Aquafina. I have a couple of Poland Spring bottles I've been using for about 2 years now- I just put tap water in them every day and bring them to work, the gym, etc. The bottles were cheaper and weighed less than a real sports bottle- and at the end of the day if they get ruined I can just recycle them :)
sparkmonkeyzApr 18, 2006
Well my take on it is that, yes some times bottled water can "taste" better, but it depends. And the study on 20/20 had them drink a cap full of water, which i dont think is enough for your body to notice a difference. Personlally, i think that it is the way that the water well... like... flows, if you know what i mean.
cheifchuck0Apr 18, 2006
NYC water is the best. True that. Double true.
jefflundbergApr 19, 2006
I personally like Detroit City water better than any bottled water. In fact, there's several companies that bottle water from the Detroit River, including Aquafina. Detroit was even thinking of bottling it's own water as a way to make money. According to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, "Tests comparing Detroit water with a half-dozen bottled waters -- including Evian and Aquafina -- have found that the city's water is just as good -- and in some cases better -- than what you buy in the store, water department officials say."It's also safer: "Unlike the city's water department, the bottled water industry is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Water Quality Control Division of the state."<a class="user" href="http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/102202_great_lakes1.htm">http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/102202_great_lakes1.htm</a>
tinapaalApr 25, 2007
The perceived value of bottled water is great, but in truth does it really matter. Of course, it depends on the water quality, but check it out.<a class="user" href="http://www.definiteinfo.com/services/water-delivery.html">http://www.definiteinfo.com/services/water-delivery.html</a>
onenycutterJul 29, 2007
With all due respect due to the writer this brings up two very important and salient issues. How do we define fancy? How do we define pretending? The definition of fancy as defined by Websters is as follows: made, designed, grown, adapted, etc., to please the taste; of superfine quality or exceptional appeal. Now one could argue that ones interpretation of what is or is not fancy is entirely predicated on one's environment and social conditions; what one is accustomed to experiencing on a daily basis. In a city like New York, a city of unlimited options and seemingly an unfathomable exposure to things, a resident of that particular and very specific subculture may have a much different interpretation of the notion of what is or is not fancy. I am not entirely convinced that what someone who is a resident of a more suburban or rural area considers fancy would be interpreted as such in a place like New York City.Also, it is important to look at the writer's usage of the word pretending. Many people who do not travel nor posses a worldview tend to view their own subculture as the dominant subculture in which all other subcultures are judged against. The problem with this social problem is that all subcultures define reality by it's own terms and conditions that are entirely unique to that particular subculture. When someone, seemingly lacking in a worldview is encountered with values that are not in lockstep alignment with the social, behavioral or intellectual parameters of their own frame of reference things tend to be interpreted as otherness or falseness. When people like this are confronted with cultural or social behaviors they have no true concept of it is most often interpreted as pretending simply because there is no true endeavor to comprehend the judged person's own unique interpretation to reality as it exists within the cultural, behavioral, social and intellectual parameters of that person's own subculture.In English, what I am saying is that if someone exhibits values or behaviors slightly different from yours they are not false people but merely living in a way that is accordance to the very true reality of their environment. One should do the intellectual legwork to realize this notion before promulgating an evaluation of something one has no concept of.One can say that New yorkers are not pretending to be fancy , but, they are fancy. I don't think attempts are being made to be fancy. I think that the normal everyday life of a New Yorker may be interpreted as fancy by others but I would hasten to say that this is an affected effort. Everyone is a product of their environment after all.As a resident of New York City, I do not drink the tap water unless I am at home, at work or in a restaurant. The other times I drink bottled. The reason for this and I think for many New Yorkers, is that New Yorkers spend a tremendous amount of time outside of their apartments walking. This makes one want to drink more water but not necessarily want to carry around a gallon jug through the city. It is much easier to buy a bottle, drink it, throw it away and then buy another. The average New Yorker walks four miles per day and It is a much lighter load to carry around all day when you deal with one bottle a a time. Also, I make a very generous salary as do allot of New Yorkers and I don't think that the expense is an issue. I also don't know of any New Yorkers who would consider bottled water to be fancy. You have to be a peasant to think that. When you make $200,000.00 per year and there are places to buy bottled water on every corner it may as well be free water at arms reach at all times. This changes one's perspective. The operative word being perspective.One must make an effort to understand another's culture before commenting on it. For instance, if someone from New York City comes to visit you and you invite him or her to Applebee's and they refuse stating that is a bland and mediocre choice. Are they pretending to be fancy or are they in all realness and sincerity meaning what they say and saying what they mean without any affectation or attempt at fanciness. Think about it. With an accessibility to experience like no other city in the world, a New Yorker is going to inevitably raise the bar on him or herself so to speak simply because raising the bar on oneself in NYC is not only so damn easy, but infinitely pleasurable, even with a "gasp" bottled water in hand.
h2o4uNov 30, 2008
Hi! I operate a certified water testing lab that was referenced as a good place to have your water tested by J. Romano of the N.Y. Times. Consequently, we ended up testing a LOT of water from folks in New York City. Overall, we found the water to be of excellent quality with respect to bacteria, metals, and inorganic constituents. Any problems with individual water was usually caused from poor or degraded distribution pipes. So, for N.Y. City water, I say, - "Cheers!"Scott Bradley ( H2O4U)