Comments on: And the winner is…TAP WATER! http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water The Official Student Publication of Claremont McKenna College Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Madison Shimoda http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5782 Madison Shimoda Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:43:41 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5782 I think many of you are missing the point: water connoisseurs like myself drink bottled water for the taste of water. We would not spend money on untasty, tap-water tasting water like Poland Springs or Dasani, but we don't mind paying for water that tastes good. For example, for those who prefer harder tasting water-- that's water with more Mg for ordinary folks-- you would go for Evian or the even harder Contrex. If you prefer a milder but not too soft water, you may go for Le Bleu. If you like carbonated water, you might like Perrier (I prefer San Pellegrino.) My personal preference of water is Fiji or Panna. Choosing to drink bottled water is very much like choosing to drink bottled apple juice. Sure you can help the environment buy buying apples and making your own juice but some times the bottled martinelli stuff tastes better. Also, Nalgene bottles changes the taste of water. I think many of you are missing the point: water connoisseurs like myself drink bottled water for the taste of water. We would not spend money on untasty, tap-water tasting water like Poland Springs or Dasani, but we don’t mind paying for water that tastes good. For example, for those who prefer harder tasting water– that’s water with more Mg for ordinary folks– you would go for Evian or the even harder Contrex. If you prefer a milder but not too soft water, you may go for Le Bleu. If you like carbonated water, you might like Perrier (I prefer San Pellegrino.) My personal preference of water is Fiji or Panna. Choosing to drink bottled water is very much like choosing to drink bottled apple juice. Sure you can help the environment buy buying apples and making your own juice but some times the bottled martinelli stuff tastes better. Also, Nalgene bottles changes the taste of water.

]]> By: Sahil Kapur http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5777 Sahil Kapur Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:58:39 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5777 Brita, guys. Brita is the way to go. Cheap, environmentally friendly and tastes good. I gave up on bottled water long ago and ordinary tap water just doesn't cut it. Brita, guys. Brita is the way to go. Cheap, environmentally friendly and tastes good. I gave up on bottled water long ago and ordinary tap water just doesn’t cut it.

]]> By: Sahil Kapur http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-47258 Sahil Kapur Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:58:00 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-47258 Brita, guys. Brita is the way to go. Cheap, environmentally friendly and tastes good. I gave up on bottled water long ago and ordinary tap water just doesn't cut it. Brita, guys. Brita is the way to go. Cheap, environmentally friendly and tastes good. I gave up on bottled water long ago and ordinary tap water just doesn’t cut it.

]]> By: I am a fan http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5736 I am a fan Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:56:57 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5736 Privatization of water? Come down to earth my friend. Privatization of water? Come down to earth my friend.

]]> By: I am a fan http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-47257 I am a fan Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:56:00 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-47257 Privatization of water? Come down to earth my friend. Privatization of water? Come down to earth my friend.

]]> By: Charles Johnson http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5725 Charles Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:49:19 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5725 Also, there's very little evidence that recycling is beneficial for the environment. Might I point to another Bullsh-t episode? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1444391672891013193 Also, there’s very little evidence that recycling is beneficial for the environment. Might I point to another Bullsh-t episode? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1444391672891013193

]]> By: Charles Johnson http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-47256 Charles Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:49:00 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-47256 Also, there's very little evidence that recycling is beneficial for the environment. Might I point to another Bullsh-t episode? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1444391672891013193 Also, there’s very little evidence that recycling is beneficial for the environment. Might I point to another Bullsh-t episode? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1444391672891013193

]]> By: Charles Johnson http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5723 Charles Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:25:01 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5723 What Mike A said about the infrastructure question is undeniably true. If the government were to exit the market on water, it is likely that some of those infrastructure problems wouldn't persist. Why would they? Every wasted drop would be wasted money for a private company. Mr. Sprague, the link I put up links to a pdf, which is from where I cited. I would also point out that in Third World countries public ownership of water hasn't been a net positive as water is used as a political weapon. Fortunately, there are efforts afoot to privatize it even in the Third World. (http://www.reason.com/news/show/32902.html) (http://www.reason.com/news/printer/34992.html) But hey, it's not all bad. Part of the good news (at least for me) is that government owned water means that in a lot of countries Coca-Cola sales increase. (I happen to be a share holder.) In turn, Coca-cola sales give a good assessment of whether or not the regime is stable. http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670946 What Mike A said about the infrastructure question is undeniably true. If the government were to exit the market on water, it is likely that some of those infrastructure problems wouldn’t persist. Why would they? Every wasted drop would be wasted money for a private company.

Mr. Sprague, the link I put up links to a pdf, which is from where I cited.

I would also point out that in Third World countries public ownership of water hasn’t been a net positive as water is used as a political weapon. Fortunately, there are efforts afoot to privatize it even in the Third World. (http://www.reason.com/news/show/32902.html) (http://www.reason.com/news/printer/34992.html)

But hey, it’s not all bad. Part of the good news (at least for me) is that government owned water means that in a lot of countries Coca-Cola sales increase. (I happen to be a share holder.) In turn, Coca-cola sales give a good assessment of whether or not the regime is stable. http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670946

]]> By: Charles Johnson http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-47255 Charles Johnson Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:25:00 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-47255 What Mike A said about the infrastructure question is undeniably true. If the government were to exit the market on water, it is likely that some of those infrastructure problems wouldn't persist. Why would they? Every wasted drop would be wasted money for a private company. Mr. Sprague, the link I put up links to a pdf, which is from where I cited. I would also point out that in Third World countries public ownership of water hasn't been a net positive as water is used as a political weapon. Fortunately, there are efforts afoot to privatize it even in the Third World. (http://www.reason.com/news/show/32902.html) (http://www.reason.com/news/printer/34992.html) But hey, it's not all bad. Part of the good news (at least for me) is that government owned water means that in a lot of countries Coca-Cola sales increase. (I happen to be a share holder.) In turn, Coca-cola sales give a good assessment of whether or not the regime is stable. http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670946 What Mike A said about the infrastructure question is undeniably true. If the government were to exit the market on water, it is likely that some of those infrastructure problems wouldn’t persist. Why would they? Every wasted drop would be wasted money for a private company.

Mr. Sprague, the link I put up links to a pdf, which is from where I cited.

I would also point out that in Third World countries public ownership of water hasn’t been a net positive as water is used as a political weapon. Fortunately, there are efforts afoot to privatize it even in the Third World. (http://www.reason.com/news/show/32902.html) (http://www.reason.com/news/printer/34992.html)

But hey, it’s not all bad. Part of the good news (at least for me) is that government owned water means that in a lot of countries Coca-Cola sales increase. (I happen to be a share holder.) In turn, Coca-cola sales give a good assessment of whether or not the regime is stable. http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670946

]]> By: Mike A. http://cmcforum.com/life/03302009-and-the-winner-istap-water#comment-5710 Mike A. Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:03:08 +0000 http://cmcforum.com/?p=2627#comment-5710 Charlie - It sounds like you are against bottled water regardless of any arguement. I believe you are an opponent of bottled water simply to be against something, which is sometimes admirable, but you need to get your facts straight. 1. Charles J. has a legitimate point that our public water infrastructure is failing; as an example, I recommend you look at any State's consumer confidence reports. For example, the most recent data for Florida's public water systems shows 19.4% of the systems had serious violations in 2005 and 15.5% has violations in 2006. (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/drinkingwater/info.htm#general). Generally, when a public system fails the recommended alternative is bottled water. 2. Consumers should have a choice in what they drink. Seems like you would prefer a water drinker consume contaminated water from a public system instead of drinking bottled water, which is simply ludacris. Take the time to Google "PWS failures" or "water boil adviseries" and you will see the staggering number of PWS problems across US. 3. You should educate yourself on the bottled water treatment and food safety measures, then compare to public water. Typically, bottled water is from a groundwater source that must meet all food requirements (stainless steel, UV disinfection, microfiltration), whereas public water is from surface water sources, wrought with bacteria that must be chemically treated (chlorine) to make a consumable product. 4. The last point I'll make is to address your claim of filling our land fills. Again, check the data, bottled water plastics account for about 0.0002 % of landfill wastes. If you want to reduce landfills of non-biodegradable products, you should focus your efforts on disposable diapirs, which represents a significant land fill volume. I would speculate that you are afraid to take on mothers who choose to use disposable diapirs, probably b/c it would be more difficult. But, as they say, "proof is in the pudding" and I would argue that your positions are generally scientifically invalid and undefensible. 5. With all that said, I support improving our PWS infrastructure, and further believe everyone needs fresh drinking water. I am going on a mission trip to Nigeria this summer to get fresh water for poverty stricken communities, how are you helping solve these problems? I would suggest that your complaints about bottled water are such as it is simply an easy emotional arguement versus a valid (scientifically supported) "problem". Walk the walk, improve fresh drinking water for everyine. Charlie – It sounds like you are against bottled water regardless of any arguement. I believe you are an opponent of bottled water simply to be against something, which is sometimes admirable, but you need to get your facts straight. 1. Charles J. has a legitimate point that our public water infrastructure is failing; as an example, I recommend you look at any State’s consumer confidence reports. For example, the most recent data for Florida’s public water systems shows 19.4% of the systems had serious violations in 2005 and 15.5% has violations in 2006. (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/drinkingwater/info.htm#general). Generally, when a public system fails the recommended alternative is bottled water. 2. Consumers should have a choice in what they drink. Seems like you would prefer a water drinker consume contaminated water from a public system instead of drinking bottled water, which is simply ludacris. Take the time to Google “PWS failures” or “water boil adviseries” and you will see the staggering number of PWS problems across US. 3. You should educate yourself on the bottled water treatment and food safety measures, then compare to public water. Typically, bottled water is from a groundwater source that must meet all food requirements (stainless steel, UV disinfection, microfiltration), whereas public water is from surface water sources, wrought with bacteria that must be chemically treated (chlorine) to make a consumable product. 4. The last point I’ll make is to address your claim of filling our land fills. Again, check the data, bottled water plastics account for about 0.0002 % of landfill wastes. If you want to reduce landfills of non-biodegradable products, you should focus your efforts on disposable diapirs, which represents a significant land fill volume. I would speculate that you are afraid to take on mothers who choose to use disposable diapirs, probably b/c it would be more difficult. But, as they say, “proof is in the pudding” and I would argue that your positions are generally scientifically invalid and undefensible. 5. With all that said, I support improving our PWS infrastructure, and further believe everyone needs fresh drinking water. I am going on a mission trip to Nigeria this summer to get fresh water for poverty stricken communities, how are you helping solve these problems? I would suggest that your complaints about bottled water are such as it is simply an easy emotional arguement versus a valid (scientifically supported) “problem”. Walk the walk, improve fresh drinking water for everyine.

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