uptowngirl

Water Water everywhere

In a city where there a plethora of designer waters available and which once had the world's water sommelier at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Battery Park (http://blog.timesunion.com/dowdondrinks/recalling-the-ritz-carltons-aquaman/2543/), do you imbibe the city's finest straight out of the faucet or do you filter or boil the liquid or do you do neither but buy tons of bottled water( quelle horreur!)

Having grown up in a culture where tap water was not potable, I boil my water to the amusement of friends who laugh and tell me that I am boiling impurities and it makes no difference to the quality of water and if I really want to be particular I should use a Brita filter.I wonder what the water drinking habits of other new yorkers are?

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19 Comments

ajadedidealist Feb 09, 2010

I just drink from the tap. I'm cheap like that (and a water sommelier? REALLY?) But I'm used to it, at this point. I occasionally fill up an Evian bottle with tap and refrigerate it - I like it nice and cold...

Uraniumfish Feb 09, 2010

It's a well-known fact that NYC drinking water is of very good quality, because it comes from an underground reservoir that flows down from upstate. Saw a documentary on this once, and remember thinking, well at least that one's a boon, since I have to battle cockroaches and other yucky things daily. Anyway, here are more options for information about reservoir levels and quality: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/index.shtml The New York Public Library had an excellent exhibit up recently about the reservoir system, but I think it's gone now.

hhusted Feb 09, 2010

I don't take chances. I have bottled water and also drink out of the tap. It depends on where I am at the time.

uptowngirl Feb 09, 2010

I guess I am the weird one I boil my water at home and ask for tap at restaurants !

hhusted Feb 10, 2010

Hey, uptowngirl, you do what you believe in. You do what is necessary. If it is a practice in your culture to do it, go with it. If you do it for safety reasons, don't let anyone tell you different. You are only trying to protect yourself and your family.

Uraniumfish Feb 11, 2010

I'm laughing at this, uptowngirl, since I think NYC water is one of the few cities' water that you don't have to boil. But if it makes you feel better...It really is good drinking water. I'll have to do some research and come up with some solid proof to set your mind at ease on this point.

hhusted Feb 11, 2010

I would love to read what you find out, Uraniumfish. Whatever you find, I am sure will be educational and informative.

uptowngirl Feb 11, 2010

@Uraniumfish I await your post :)

Uraniumfish Feb 16, 2010

@uptowngirl Here's a write-up on the water quality in NYC on wikipedia. I know it's only Wikipedia, but it summarizes and cites the Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_New_York_City#Water_supply And here's the most recent report, published in 2007. I think a new one is due out soon: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstate07.pdf Hope this sets your mind at ease!

DBlack Feb 16, 2010

Here's a somewhat more recent report from 2008. I admit I didn't pay a lot of attention back in Chemistry class at school, but the substances that the city does add to the water, like chlorine and fluoride wouldn't be affected one way or another by boiling water. Actually, boiling water only kills bacteria in the water, if there is a lot of bacteria, but it wouldn't affect the level of heavy metals, for example. In NYC's case, there aren't a lot of bacteria or a lot of heavy metals either, so we can all consider ourselves very lucky! http://nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/wsstate08.pdf

ajadedidealist Feb 16, 2010

Thanks for the information, DBlack and Uraniumfish. How strange to think that something as seemingly simple as clean water varies so widely across the US.

hhusted Feb 16, 2010

Hey, thanks Uraniumfish and DBlack. I appreciate the links. It goes to show that NYC water is safer than we give credit for.

uptowngirl Feb 16, 2010

Thanks uraniumfish and Dblack maybe I will start by filling my sipper bottle with tap water for my workout tomorrow morning.

hhusted Feb 17, 2010

Maybe now I can ease up on buying so much bottled water.

uptowngirl Feb 17, 2010

@hhusted if you don't your neighborhood environmentalist will chase you down the street with a broom :) :):)

hhusted Feb 18, 2010

@uptowngirl: Funny. :) :) I like your sense of humor.

JenMac Feb 19, 2010

That was such a plus for me when I moved here! No more giant bottle lugging! Just a little Brita filter replacement (bc old habits die hard) and I'm ready to go! New York water is great.

hhusted Feb 19, 2010

Yeah, and for goodness sake I hope it doesn't get ruined in some way, like a chemical spill or something tragic.

NeverSleeps Feb 19, 2010

I buy a lot of water bottles but reuse them by filling them up with tap water. I don't keep them long though, as I hear it's not great to keep reusing the bottles forever. Boiling the water seems a little extreme, though, especially when the tap water won't harm you in the least!