Ok to drink tapwater?

[phorsenuf]

I got sick from drinking from the fountains this last trip of ours...but not the time before.... I'd say it depends on what your immune system etc is doing while you're there. I was being very careful, since I had been sick from something in American coke (HFCS) the last time, so was being very conscious of what I ate/drank, etc and the only thing dh and I could narrow it down to was the fountain water.

I wouldn't say it would make everyone sick, as I know tons of people (myself included) who have drunk from the fountains other times, but this time out? I hit a bad water time, I guess! I'll be erring on the side of caution from now on out....having the scoots and cramps at Disney is no fun!

Or touching handrails, holding on to things on rides, touching a door handle, a counter, the condiment lever, etc, etc, etc.
There is nothing wrong with the tap water in Florida, it's not Mexico.

 

[EKW]

I got sick from drinking from the fountains this last trip of ours...

Well, there you go! It isn't the water, it's drinking fountains! Drinking fountains should be a source of last resort. I quit drinking from water fountains years ago...when I realized that every time I drank from one at school, I got sick.

Everyone who uses the fountain leaves their germs on the bar/switch. If you must drink from a fountain, put your hand inside your shirt and use the shirt between your hand and the lever. The germs will be on your shirt, not your hand.

Tap water is sanitary. In fact, it has chlorine and other chemicals in it...there are tons of tests showing that bottled water is more likely to have contaminants than tap water.

The fact is, every time you eat out you are exposed to a plethora of germs. Second to drinking fountains are those trays for fast food. They are usually only wiped off...not washed. Just touching the tray exposes you to tons of germs. I suggest a liberal use of napkins and hand sanitizers to help prevent picking up germs this way. My boys also know that they are never to set their food directly at the table. Spreading a napkin first puts a barrier between whatever may be on the surface of the table and the food. I didn't get this way until a KCMO restaurant repeatedly got cited for spreading hepatitis. You figure, if you hear about a major disease being spread by a fast food place, there are tons of "normal" viruses that get spread that way, too!

 

[Megkel]

I personally cannot stand the taste or smell of the water. I live a few hours outside of FL and have a gallon of water in my bathroom for when I brush my teeth My husband is the pickiest person ever and has no issues with the water.

I wouldn't drink out of the water fountain though. Have you ever seen a kid drink out of one? They put their mouth right on it and yuck! Probably much better off going to a stand and asking for a cup of water

 

[goofystitchfan]

I have to be honest, never really noticed a smell. I however always get the runs from the tap water in Florida. I go ice less as well. My DH and DS's do drink right from the tap with no problems. I purchase the bottled water for myself. I have not tried any of the filters, guess I don't want to waste any of my time incase it doesn't work.

 

[rob4059]

I agree with phorsenuf! The tap water is perfectly safe. It won't taste like evian or even aquafina, but it is certainly safe and much better than the alternatives of either paying $4 for a bottle or suffering dehydration.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's extremely unlikely anyone posting here actually got sick from drinking the water in FL. The water in the US is safe. Your illnesses came from something else.

 

[Swimnoid]

I personally don't like the taste of it but it doesn't make me sick or anything. I make iced tea with it but DH will only make his coffee with bottled water.

 

[roscoepc1]

Or touching handrails, holding on to things on rides, touching a door handle, a counter, the condiment lever, etc, etc, etc.
There is nothing wrong with the tap water in Florida, it's not Mexico.

I didn't say, or mean to say, there was anything "wrong" with the water. I simply said (and meant) it didn't agree with ME....million can and do drink it all the time with no ill effects, but other people MIGHT have problems....the same is true of ANY water, ANYWHERE in the world...

Well, there you go! It isn't the water, it's drinking fountains! Drinking fountains should be a source of last resort. I quit drinking from water fountains years ago...when I realized that every time I drank from one at school, I got sick.
Everyone who uses the fountain leaves their germs on the bar/switch. If you must drink from a fountain, put your hand inside your shirt and use the shirt between your hand and the lever. The germs will be on your shirt, not your hand.

Tap water is sanitary. In fact, it has chlorine and other chemicals in it...there are tons of tests showing that bottled water is more likely to have contaminants than tap water.

The fact is, every time you eat out you are exposed to a plethora of germs. Second to drinking fountains are those trays for fast food. They are usually only wiped off...not washed. Just touching the tray exposes you to tons of germs. I suggest a liberal use of napkins and hand sanitizers to help prevent picking up germs this way. My boys also know that they are never to set their food directly at the table. Spreading a napkin first puts a barrier between whatever may be on the surface of the table and the food. I didn't get this way until a KCMO restaurant repeatedly got cited for spreading hepatitis. You figure, if you hear about a major disease being spread by a fast food place, there are tons of "normal" viruses that get spread that way, too!

That actually makes a LOT of sense...I DO think it was the actual water, but it could have easily been tainted by the spout etc....

 

[Mama Who]

Tap water is sanitary. In fact, it has chlorine and other chemicals in it...there are tons of tests showing that bottled water is more likely to have contaminants than tap water.

Of course, some folks are sensitive to the chemicals. I don't drink the tap water in Anaheim because it smells like a swimming pool and I know it will make me ill. It's *sanitary* but it still makes me sick. Water that is technically fine can still bother some people's systems. You just have to know your own body and go with it. I find a good rule of thumb is that if I can *smell* the water, I shouldn't drink it.

 

[sesame_123]

Bobbles!! I have not used the brita bottles but I have used a bobble, I'm guessing they are similar products. Bottle with an internal filter. Helps elminate the sulphur taste. The powder products work too but then you are getting extra sugar/artifical sugar, and I just prefer the taste of water. We took 3 bobbles with us on our last trip, saw a drinking fountain (bubbler for those of us in wisconsin) and filled them up, added ice if we had it.

 

[manning]

At all cost there is a chemical that must be added to the water. To not do so will be at your own risk. It is called vodka.

 

[Theosus]

We always drink the water straight from the faucet.

It tastes like beach water anywhere... I usually add a propel water thing or a koolaid mix to the bottle, it cuts the taste, but you get used to it after a few days. I never buy bottled water. I find it funny people whine about $4 gallon gas, but pay the equivalent of around $8/gallon for water.

 

[roscoepc1]

Of course, some folks are sensitive to the chemicals. I don't drink the tap water in Anaheim because it smells like a swimming pool and I know it will make me ill. It's *sanitary* but it still makes me sick. Water that is technically fine can still bother some people's systems. You just have to know your own body and go with it. I find a good rule of thumb is that if I can *smell* the water, I shouldn't drink it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you are afraid of drinking the water from a fountain just ask for a cup of water at any food stand they are free.

 

[WilliamCapuli]

Most of the tap water in U.S. comes from surface sources
(rivers, streams and lakes) and the rest is from groundwater
(subterranean reservoirs). Water from both sources (surface and subterranean) most likely contains many environmental pollutants: animal wastes, local fertilizers (i.e. nitrates), insecticides, industrial chemicals and wastes, air pollutants (i.e. lead and radon), toxic organic chemicals, petroleum spills.

So be very careful in drinking waters from faucets.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Most of the tap water in U.S. comes from surface sources
(rivers, streams and lakes) and the rest is from groundwater
(subterranean reservoirs). Water from both sources (surface and subterranean) most likely contains many environmental pollutants: animal wastes, local fertilizers (i.e. nitrates), insecticides, industrial chemicals and wastes, air pollutants (i.e. lead and radon), toxic organic chemicals, petroleum spills.

So be very careful in drinking waters from faucets.

Tap water in the US is treated in a variety of ways to remove contaminents and is subject to regulations that limit what can be in it. It is also treated with chemicals to kill bacteria that could make you sick. It is not like drinking water straight rome surface or underground sources. It is much more likely someone would get sick from germs left on the faucets by another user than they got sick from the actual water.

 

[mjkacmom]

Most of the tap water in U.S. comes from surface sources
(rivers, streams and lakes) and the rest is from groundwater
(subterranean reservoirs). Water from both sources (surface and subterranean) most likely contains many environmental pollutants: animal wastes, local fertilizers (i.e. nitrates), insecticides, industrial chemicals and wastes, air pollutants (i.e. lead and radon), toxic organic chemicals, petroleum spills.

So be very careful in drinking waters from faucets.

Interesting first post...

 

[nilseks]

We have pretty decent water at home and we filter it in a PUR pitcher...so yes, the water in Orlando does bother us. I use it to brush my teeth in a pinch, but my kids won't touch it. Ever. The ONLY place we've found that has water that tastes good (no sulfur taste) is at Ghirardelli at DTD.

I tried bringing some filter bottles but my kids (who are still young) got caught up in the moment(s) last time and somehow managed to lose 2 of them. I think one get left in a show and the other...who knows. At $10 a pop it is expensive to lose those bottles, so I will go back to buying the $7ish cases of water from Garden Grocer and save myself a bit of money this time. We usually buy 2 cases and that works for the 4 of us for a week.