Man, whatever happened to water fountains? Drives me crazy -- you can't find them anywhere anymore, and when you finally do see one, it's been turned off!

When I rule the world (I'm shooting for 2013), water fountains will be everywhere. 

Well, not to brag, but here in Portland we've got our Benson Bubblers, originally installed to offer loggers an alternative to, ahem, livelier spirits. I remember orginally feeling shocked that people would buy water, then for awhile I thought bottled water MUST be healthier, I mean, they wouldn't be trying to pull a fast one would they? Then I came to my senses and got reuseable bottles, but even now I buy a bottle from time to time.

 Magnetic water conditioners do not remove the natural minerals that are essential to health, they are still in the water but are held in suspension

The powerful magnetic field is concentrated & focused on the centre of the water pipe and provides sufficient contact time to condition the whole water supply of the average household

Magnetically conditioned water is not only safe to drink, it tastes better too.

The American Heart Federation claim that fatal heart attacks and strokes are more common where water is either naturally soft or has been treated with water softeners. However, your health could benefit when you magnetically condition the water in your home.

Tests also indicate that dental plaque is reduced considerably when magnetically treated water is used for cleaning teeth.

The magnetic properties are guaranteed for life. It will never need recharging nor cost a penny to run or maintain

H2flow® for domestic use should be fitted on the rising main where water comes into the home (usually under the kitchen sink). If water remains in a loft storage tank for more than 24 hours, fit a second unit on the cold water tank exit and possibly a third on the hot water tank exit down pipe

Health Benefits

Magnetically conditioned water tastes "better"Reduces acidity and helps regulate the body's pHEvidence suggests that magnetised water has a general therapeutic effect on the body especially in the digestive, nervous and urinary systems. (Bansal & Bansal 1998)Drink daily before meals for stomach and digestive problems.Drinking magnetised water should be part of your daily health maintenance plan.Drinking magnetised water may help dissipate toxic deposits within the body connective tissues. The body is 70% water and the body water is renewed every two weeks.Magnetised water has been reported to help clear clogged arteries, normalise the circulatory system, and regulate heart function.Drinking magnetised water may be beneficial for kidney ailments, gout, obesity, and premature ageing.Magnetised water is used to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and for the removal and prevention of kidney stones.Magnetised water infuses energy into the body, reduces acidity of the gastrointestinal tract, and stimulates brain activity.Contact me at pacedirect@gmail.com if you'd like more details

The only bottled water I've ever purchased is a cheap case of bottles for the trunk of the car, in case we forget our reuseable bottles, filled at home with water out of our Brita jug, or the odd bottle of water at Trader Joe's.  The water there is $.39/bottle and it's the same problem - either I forgot my water bottle or it's already empty.  My Brita filters cost me about $35.00 a year.  That seems slightly reasonable.  Even having water delivered is a better option; you can use your refillable water bottle and the containers that the company brings are returned for refilling.

I also have a Brita sports water bottle that I bought when I went camping, didn't like the taste of the campsite tap water, and ended up drinking far too much other 'stuff'.  This lovely device, which is not expensive, actually has a little water filter added to the cap, so you can refill to your heart's content.  Replacements are not expensive and with daily use, need only be changed every 60 days.

The depressing bit of information I read over the weekend is that the percentage of American households recycling is *down* to 35% or so from around 52% in the 70's.  Once again, I remind Americans of the recycling options available in British Columbia, including recycling for beverage containers right there on the street beside the garbage can.  Every time I throw something away here because I have no choice, when I would be recycling it were I still living in Victoria, I flinch.

Why anybody would pay more for water - after all the time, effort and money spent on making municipal water supplies safe - than for gasoline is beyond me.  I will offer one exception, though, and that is Los Angeles.  I did NOT drink the water when I visited there.  I am sure it is safe but it doesn't taste even slightly palatable.  I did, however, recycle the water bottles.

By the way, I've visited Portland several times and I missed out on Benson Bubblers, unless you mean a fountain of some description.  Can you clarify?

I find that reverse osmosis or filters on your tap are also effective if you just do not trust your city's water, or your underground well.  Reusable water bottles are also offered free at some sporting good stores or bike shops in order to advertise free!  Take advantage!!  I also just had Culligan come into my office to install a water cooler because our tap at work tasted really bad!!  It's not expensive and you can also have them put one in your home!!

I know that when I lived in Colorado Spring’s that I would never worry too much about the water that I was getting. I could look out my living room window and see Pikes Peak. So I figured it couldn’t be that bad. It did taste a little different from bottled water but it was not bad, at all. Now here in California with the desert and all kinds of pollution in the air, I prefer filtered or bottled water. The water here is hot, gross, and dry compared to Colorado where it is cool and refreshing, I had absolutely no problem chugging a glass of water after Volleyball practice, but here I think I might have to go buy one of those horrid plastic bottles.

I usually use Arrowhead water bottles and just refill them with my filtered water from the refrigerator. But then I heard that reusing the throw away kind was unhealthy so am changing to reusable. I read here, on LIme, about reusable bottles from Sunrider so will be buying those this week. They look like they will do the trick and I won't feel guilty or worry about my health. And will hopefully save some money and be a little greener to boot!

The house I'm subletting in for the summer is on a hill and the water literally smells and tastes like bleach. (It's very disconcerting when taking a shower.) Simple solution, though: Brita filter! I refuse to buy bottled water because of the industry, even when I am out and need a refreshing drink - I usually just buy juice.

 I predict that all of our wars in the coming years will be fought over water. 

My father-n-law used to reuse bottled water  bottles and fill them up with tap watar to appease my  husband when we visited, since he had to have bottled water.  Finally, my husband caught on.  It was pretty funnu actually.  My husband said it tasted different.  I think they went wrong in that they didn't have a filter.  Filtered water is what we drink and I take my reusable bottle to the gym everyday. 

or at least it should be...

 How did we sit back and do nothing as Coke Pepsi and Nestle began bottling our water supply?

And more importantly, how do we stop them? 

I think it's great that Aquafina has decided to change their labels to clarify their purification process.  To me, it is the right step in confirming that they do not want to mislead consumers.  I drink a lot of water each day and I'll admit, I do buy bottled waters from time to time.  I actually like the tap water at my home and also have a brita, but there are times that I forget to grab that before I leave my house.  Of course I recycle them, but there is the convenience factor of bottled water that I think might be hard to change for most people.