Tucson water (best cities, credit card, house)

[joskel]

Greetings,

I recall that friends who live in Tucson do not drink the tap water at all, but buy bottled water even for their pets.

Is this a result of the quality, lack there of, or is it a different issue? Is it a matter of the taste (salty, sulfur-y, rusty, etc.) or What?

In certain areas in Kansas, for example, deep underground natural gas effects the taste of the water and makes it unpleasant and when purified through the chlorine process, it is, well shall I just say AWFUL to try to drink.

In certain areas of southern Oklahoma, sulphur makes the water almost undrinkable and even difficult to use for anything because of the odor.

Should I consider installing a water filtration and/or purification system in the house?

TIA for your input.

Have a great day.
Joseph

[Bummer]

I know what you mean about stinky smelling and tasting water, Joskel, especially that Sulphur Stuff in many parts of the country.

I've lived in Tucson since 1997 and have been drinking the water from day one. However, I do buy Jug Water only because it is more convenient and colder (desert tap water tends to be warmer than hot water during the summer) than tap water plus it does taste a little better.

[maximusveritas]

There was a study in 2006 by some University of Cincinnati researchers looking at water quality in major cities across the country. Tucson ranked at the top for a couple categories and would have been in the top 10 overall if not for some missing data.
Best Cities For Clean Drinking Water - Forbes.com

As to why there are negative attitudes toward the tap water in Tucson, there have been a few problems such as the TCE plume from the airport and the CAP (Colorado River) debacle in 1992. This website talks about some of that history:
Chapter 6. Ensuring Safe Drinking Water - Water in the Tucson Area: Seeking Sustainability
There was another recent report about trace medications in the drinking water across the country, including Tucson, though I personally don't see that as a huge problem.

Overall though, I think Tucson water is above average.

[ZonyPony]

I personally drink Tucson tap water, and have forever. Call me crazy, but I never understood paying for bottled water when its already paid for and available right from the tap! Of course I also raise my eyebrows when "service stations" charge for AIR as well!

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

I personally drink Tucson tap water, and have forever. Call me crazy, but I never understood paying for bottled water when its already paid for and available right from the tap! Of course I also raise my eyebrows when "service stations" charge for AIR as well!

I had to pay for air the other night... 75 cents. The station even had a credit card slot on the air pump.

I drink the water too... it's not bad. When I was still in MD, we had a severe drought one year, and they had to pump water out of the Susquehanna River. Talk about nasty!! It tasted like dirt and smelled like poo.

The worst water I've ever experienced was in a little town in West Virginia. We rented a cabin for a long weekend. The owner said "the water's gotta little scent to it". That was an understatement! It smelled like sulfer so bad that my husband was gagging while showering.

[Chorizo]

The water is better in certain parts of the city as well.

I grew up in the Alvernon/Grant area and the tap water there has always been drinkable in my opinion. I even drank out of the hose!

When I got out of my parents house I went to the east side and had to buy bottled water or use a filter (those Brita and PUR filters make a difference!)

Recently I moved back into the 16 zipcode and can once again drink the tap water (its not bad really), but I prefer to continue using my PUR filter container that I can keep in the fridge and keep cold (and it does taste a little better.)

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Chorizo

The water is better in certain parts of the city as well.

I wonder what’s the deal with this, too. I’ve never had a problem with the water in any other location before, but the water in my current house wreaks havoc with my hair! When the house was being built I had the option of getting a water softening system, but I didn’t because I don’t really like the feel of soft water at all. This water is something else, though! I’ve been meaning to have a filter installed on my shower, but haven’t gotten around to it.

Does anybody know if the sources of water are really different? They must be…

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Chorizo

The water is better in certain parts of the city as well.

I grew up in the Alvernon/Grant area and the tap water there has always been drinkable in my opinion. I even drank out of the hose!

When I got out of my parents house I went to the east side and had to buy bottled water or use a filter (those Brita and PUR filters make a difference!)

Recently I moved back into the 16 zipcode and can once again drink the tap water (its not bad really), but I prefer to continue using my PUR filter container that I can keep in the fridge and keep cold (and it does taste a little better.)

Very interesting, Chorizo . . . I guess I learned something today!

[sierraAZ]

I generally don't drink water and certainly not warm water , but on the rare occasion I have a sip out of the tap in the winter I don't have a problem with it. Not even with this one now that ruins my hair!

[Chorizo]

Sierra, according to Tucson Water's website, there are 175 ground water wells and 20 reservoirs.
Water comes out of the wells through the treatment plant and thengoes into the reservoir.
Chances are some wells go into one reservoir where others go into different ones. Wells being in different locations could have different natural rock and mineral formations around them, changing the taste.

I think parts of town are even getting CAP water, and other parts not and that probably plays a huge factor in different tastes, if it is the case.