Concerns About Tap Water Quality and Taste
A central theme revolves around skepticism regarding the quality and taste of tap water, even in developed countries with established water treatment standards. Many users express a preference for filtered water due to taste, perceived safety, and the potential for contamination, despite official assurances.
- "It's mostly for taste at this point, rather than safety. For a long time I used to drink right from the tap, now use a filter pitcher simply because it tastes better." (vsskanth)
- "Even if safe, municipal water where I live (San Jose, California) contains a ton of chlorine and is super hard, making it unpleasant to drink. In contrast, bottled water consistently tastes fine." (porphyra)
- "StopDisinfo910: I think the writer is sidestepping the main issue most of the people who want to filter their water are thinking about. Sure, your tap water is within the federal limits for contaminants. The issue is that these limits are significantly too high for PFAS out of convenience for the water supplying side."
Mistrust of Municipal Water Systems and Regulations
Several commenters highlight a lack of trust in municipal water systems and government regulations, citing examples of contamination incidents and concerns about the adequacy of current standards. Historical events and the slow response of authorities in acknowledging problems contribute to this distrust.
- "It took two whole years for administrators in Flint, Michigan to acknowledge their lead pipe crisis. What your treatment plant claims it does and what your municipal government claims your safety profile is do not matter one bit if you aren't constantly testing the water actually coming out of your taps." (BugsJustFindMe)
- "It shouldn't be surprising that Americans might understand that their water might not actually be safe despite the municipal government saying it is... Trust needs to be earned and maintained, and America is notoriously bad at maintaining critical public infrastructure." (BugsJustFindMe replying to cypherpunks01)
- "readings of PFAS that exceed EPA limits have been found in just 8% of small public water systems (those that serve fewer than 10,000 people) and 15% of large ones." (BugsJustFindMe quoting an article)
Filtering as a Solution
Many users advocate for water filtration as a practical and relatively inexpensive way to improve water quality and taste, providing peace of mind regardless of the official water quality reports. Different filtration methods are discussed, including filter pitchers, under-sink systems, and reverse osmosis (RO).
- "I'd rather just filter my water. It's much less hassle and I get better tasting water as a nice bonus." (BugsJustFindMe)
- "Under-sink RO systems seem pretty great to me, anywhere you live. With a small holding tank, municipal water pressure is enough to drive small RO cartridges, requiring no electrical power to run, and giving more than sufficient flow rate for all drinking water. I think the biggest downside is a few hundred dollars in initial setup, and cartridges every year or two. This seems safer than relying on the changing opinions of experts as to what amount of harmful chemicals are safe to drink." (cypherpunks01)
- "So while it's important to me that my municipal water is technically safe to drink, I still have a better experience with my drinking water when I use a filter…Occasionally they flush the pipes, which turns the water red, which is mentally disturbing, but the water filter removes the rust." (doug-moen)
Regional Differences and Personal Preferences
The discussion acknowledges that water quality varies significantly depending on location, with some users in Europe reporting higher standards for tap water compared to bottled water. Ultimately, personal preference plays a significant role in the decision to drink tap water or filtered water.
- "People are really funny about water… Each to their own." (madaxe_again)
- "In Portugal, I tend to fill a big jug with tap water (which I know is safe, I watched them put in the treatment plant!), but then leave it in the fridge." (mig39)
- "I also don't filter my water, but I live in central Europe and our tap watrr adheres to stricter standards than bottled water, so there's that." (atoav)
Concerns Regarding Bottled Water
Several users criticize bottled water as an unnecessary expense and environmental burden, particularly given that it is often sourced from tap water. The potential for microplastic contamination from bottled water is also mentioned.
- "But hey, at least it's not bottled water, which is basically tap water that has been put in a single-use plastic bottle and trucked across the country." (username223)
- "Of course bottled water is regulated far less than tap water, and contains an ungodly amount of microplastics from manufacturing and storage." (cypherpunks01)
Potential Downsides of Filtration
Some commenters point out potential downsides of water filtration, such as the cost of RO systems or potential nutritional deficiencies due to RO water removing beneficial minerals.
- "One side effect of RO is vitamin B12 deficiency...The doctor hypothesized that I had developed a severe B12 deficiency because of RO water and that I supplement my food with B12 supplements." (darth_avocado)
- "Particularly, the maintenance of an RO system consists of a lot more than just replacing cartridges every year or two. (Also, the initial cost tends to be much more than 'a few hundred dollars'.')" (hollerith)
Critique of Wirecutter Reviews
The discussion includes criticisms of Wirecutter's product reviews, with some users questioning their objectivity and trustworthiness.
- "Wirecutter 'expert' doesn't hold much sway for me with the quality of their reviews these days." (ghostly_s)
- "Wirecutter is just a worse version of Consumer Reports where they don't guarantee they aren't running ads and accepting money from the retailers whose products are featured in the media" (aprilthird2021)