Comments on: Water money

By: Red

Red — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:05:14 +0000

I grew up in a rural area where we used water from our well. So I never purified or drank bottled water.

Then I moved to a larger city and had my first taste of tap water. Yuck. Now we have a purifier attached to the sink spout, and we keep large (about 2 liter) reusable plastic bottles in the fridge to drink from throughout the day.

By: Shevy

Shevy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:46:40 +0000

I'm very sensitive to the chlorine in water and can't stand even the supposedly "great" water here in Vancouver. And I don't like really cold water so a Brita (aside from taking up valuable fridge space) is kind of useless. Besides, I tried one in Calgary years ago and found the water still tasted…funny.

I've had Canadian Springs for about a decade and average between $30 & $40 per month for water. We use it for drinking, making coffee, tea, oatmeal, etc. and for all cooking. I have a crock on a wooden stand and pay $4/month for that. It doesn't use any electricity and I couldn't imagine living without it. I'm still not a big water drinker but I never, *ever* drank water before the advent of bottled water!

By: Shevy

Shevy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:47:16 +0000

Part 2 of my comment. When we go to our rural home bottled water is even more important, as the water supply is very delicate there and every year there's at least one "boil water" advisory. I mean, it's bad enough that they put big sandwich board signs out on the highway near our house, warning everyone and deliver flyers in the mail. Even when it isn't an advisory, there are visible particles in the water and it's kind of a yellowy brown colour. Gross! I'm not even totally comfortable washing the dishes with tap water there!

By: Jersey Mom

Jersey Mom — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:13:05 +0000

We actually have a well so we don't pay for water except for the filter once a year. =)

By: Abigail

Abigail — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:29:24 +0000

You are lucky! One of the upstairs neighbors says you can still taste the chlorine — if only somewhat — after they've finished filtering their water. Perhaps we just live in an especially bad area.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:27:06 +0000

I once lived in an area where I had to buy water. Didn't realize it until I questioned why I'd been inexplicably vomiting since moving there…apparently the chlorine was the highest legal limit in water, which apparently was beyond the Brita's capabilities. Started buying bottled water and I was never sick again. Unfortunately, they didn't have the water fill-up arrangement you have, so I'd just watch for gallons of water to go on sale and stock up. Generally could get a gallon of water for $1 and sometimes 3 for $1. As an added perk, when people were clearing the shelves to stock up for tornadoes, I knew I already had enough water!
Also, your article reminds me to be grateful for the public water in Chicago, which is supposedly some of the best in the country. I use a Brita since I figure our pipes are old, but it's just fine from the tap too. Living in a HCOLA, I'm used to paying a lot for everything, but having good water from the tap is one way I save money – thanks for pointing it out!

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:09:18 +0000

We're some of the lucky ones, but I just wanted to say how much I LOVE these types of stories! Personally, sometimes frugality can be an endless treadmill, plod-plod-plod, so when we get to measure our savings, it's inspiring. Yay for you and your fat(ter) wallet!

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Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:40:57 +0000

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By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:17:04 +0000

We live in Phoenix and have never had a problem with our Brita taking away all chemical smell/taste, so I guess we're lucky. I paid big money in college to have five gallon jugs and 16 oz water bottles delivered to me, but have not found it necessary since. Since we try to be green whenever possible, Brita is the best possible solution for us.