Bottled water?

Question

People in New York are being encouraged to give up bottled water to help save the environment. City officials have launched an advertising campaign encouraging people to drink tap water - which they say cuts down on waste and saves on transport. What about us in Britain? We look at the environmental cost of bottled water and the cultural embarrassment in restaurants of asking for tap water

Answer 1

The standards for tap water in most areas are actually higher than those for bottled water.

I find it funny that people go crazy complaining about the price of gas, however they don't mind shelling out $1.59 for a bottle of water at a restaurant or at a variety store. This is water people, turn the tap on and it comes out and it's really cheap.

As for ordering water in a restaurant, it's very common around here for almost everyone to order water with lemon and every server knows that they mean tap water with ice. No embarrassment whatsoever.

Answer 2

Why should I or anyone else be embarrassed about asking for tap water? Most bottled water is just treated mineral water, that comes from hilly areas. Tap water is treated water that comes from reservoirs but doesn't rely on environmentally damaging plastics.
Once again fashion gets in the way of the enviroment with bottled water.

Answer 3

I only ever drink tap water (unless I'm out and about and I might by a bottle of water).

Did you know that you can get one cubic meter (1000 litres) of tap water for the price of one 500ml bottle of water.

But when I'm in a restaurant I usually drink beer, so asking for tap water isn't a problem. If restaurants levied a reasonable charge for tap water (10p or so) then I think there would be less of a stigma associated with it.

Answer 4

This is an issue with bottled water. It is cheaper and better for the environment to drink tap water. If we in the uk are going to drink bottled water it should be from the uk. Personally I drink tap water, the only time I drink bottled water is if I'm out and I'm thirsty. And I do ask for tap water in resturants and they can't refuse. I'm not prepared to pay the extortionate price for water in these establishments.

Answer 5

I never drink bottled water, to me it`s a waste of money and packaging. If I wanted a drink of water in a pub or restaurant I`d ask for a glass of it out of the tap.

Answer 6

Nowt wrong with tap water. I think half of it is all about looking trendy -you know looking good walking down the street with a bottle of water. Just fill up your bottles from the tap and no one will be any the wiser and you will save a fortune.

Answer 7

We drink tap water in my house all the time, and I often ask for a glass of water in a restaurant, but usually after I have already bought other drinks.

Answer 8

Living in NYC I still use one of the commercial filters (Brita) on my tap water. Unfiltered NYC water tastes good but it tastes even better after it is filtered.

I do keep about a dozen bottles of commerically bottled water handy in the event of an emergency (power failure etc).

Answer 9

Really bottled water is just another city's tap water

Answer 10

I like both,bottled water and tap water.