Awful drinking water

foaly · #1 10/12/10, 10:49 AM

Need some advice. I had to move from my wonderful drinking water in OKC to the most putrid, nasty, horrible tap water in Kansas. Even the cat won't drink it.

Can anyone recommend a good filter? Not too expensive though as I am a new single mom with the accompanying salary of such.

Jan Doling · #2 10/12/10, 10:54 AM

Our water is so bad, the filtering system goes through more salt than I can afford. Then oldest DD misplaced the key to the well house door, so I swipe gallon tea jugs full of filtered water from work. The cats are grateful...they were trying to bury the stuff from our tap!

foaly · #3 10/12/10, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Doling

Our water is so bad, the filtering system goes through more salt than I can afford. Then oldest DD misplaced the key to the well house door, so I swipe gallon tea jugs full of filtered water from work. The cats are grateful...they were trying to bury the stuff from our tap!

=^..^= Too funny!

Windy in Kansas · #4 10/12/10, 11:05 AM

I've had water in a restaurant where you live but don't remember it being bad. Is this city water? Here the chlorine smell about gets to me. Seems they add more to the water when a big event comes to town such as the state fair, Hutch Fest, etc.

edcopp · #5 10/12/10, 11:09 AM

Build a still. Distilled water should eliminate the problem.

CountryWannabe · #6 10/12/10, 11:20 AM

I have a double filter from Cu-Zn it filters all the usual suspects as well as fluoride. It was a bit spendy, but it is really, really good. My water tastes great even when they are messing around with the supply - sometimes it smells like neat Clorox is coming out the regular tap...

For a cheap filter, the Britas and such from WalMart do a decent job. Only problem with them is that you have to buy cartridges periodically which can add up.

Mary

sunflower-n-ks · #7 10/12/10, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edcopp

Build a still. Distilled water should eliminate the problem.

That is my plan.

I want one of those counter top distillers. Considering the result is about the purest you can get, sounds like a good deal to me. Where I live the water is not bad, so I don't have the "bad water" incentive to get the distiller. But when I do buy something, that will be what i get.

I know some of the towns have water that is truly undrinkable.

Harry Chickpea · #8 10/12/10, 11:33 AM

You can buy countertop distillers that make a gallon at a time. I have had one for years. Cost ends up being about 32 cents per gallon - less in winter when the heat goes towards heating the house. Make your own carbon post-filter out of aquarium carbon and a coffee filter.

I use it for drinking water because it is key to keeping from generating kidney stones. Before someone responds, NO, DRINKING DISTILLED WATER IS NOT DANGEROUS. I get so tired of hearing that old myth. Look in the bottom of my distiller pot sometime and tell me is is safer to drink that caked lime, silt, and goop. If you are concerned about it leaching minerals, you can stick a piece of coral in the receive pot and drink liquified coral (and go back to getting kidney stones) or take a multimineral from time to time and be really healthy.

Now watch, someone will read the original post, skip reading all the responses once they see the word "distilled" and go on about the dangers. Andrew Weil agrees with me.

Ramblin Wreck · #9 10/12/10, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryWannabe

For a cheap filter, the Britas and such from WalMart do a decent job. Only problem with them is that you have to buy cartridges periodically which can add up.

Mary

My well water tastes fine, but I use a Brita on the kitchen faucet anyway, more for peace of mind than anything else. Going through the charcoal filter does make it taste "cleaner" I think. I probably use about six filters a year. They are about $25 for a package of two...and the filter housing is cheaper than the filters! It might be worth a try. Good luck.

RJMAcres · #10 10/12/10, 11:40 AM

Need more info.
Where abouts in Kansas are you ?
This a well or city water system ?
Whats the water smell and taste like ?

Is there a water filter in your house/system anyplace ?

foaly · #11 10/12/10, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

I've had water in a restaurant where you live but don't remember it being bad. Is this city water? Here the chlorine smell about gets to me. Seems they add more to the water when a big event comes to town such as the state fair, Hutch Fest, etc.

I wonder if it could just be the house plumbing. My aunt lives across town (closer to I-35) and hers is less bad but still not great.

Looks like a countertop distiller may be in my future.

foaly · #12 10/12/10, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJMAcres

Need more info.
Where abouts in Kansas are you ? HARVEY COUNTY
This a well or city water system ? CITY
Whats the water smell and taste like ? VERY BITTER

Is there a water filter in your house/system anyplace ? NOPE

This was my grandparents house and the water has always been yucky, IMO.

mandidawn · #13 10/12/10, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Our water is so bad, the filtering system goes through more salt than I can afford. Then oldest DD misplaced the key to the well house door, so I swipe gallon tea jugs full of filtered water from work. The cats are grateful...they were trying to bury the stuff from our tap!

I see you live in florida - they are redoing a few treatment plants in this area right now, this should eliminate most of the bad taste in your water! hang on a few more months!

Txrider · #14 10/12/10, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foaly

Need some advice. I had to move from my wonderful drinking water in OKC to the most putrid, nasty, horrible tap water in Kansas. Even the cat won't drink it.

Can anyone recommend a good filter? Not too expensive though as I am a new single mom with the accompanying salary of such.

What is the water source, and what exactly is nasty about it?

foaly · #15 10/12/10, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txrider

What is the water source, and what exactly is nasty about it?

City water

Very bitter taste

Windy in Kansas · #16 10/12/10, 12:25 PM

Was the house vacant for awhile before you moved in? If so you might want to run some through the lines and into the yard to see if that will help. I'd probably be brave and ask one of the neighbors if I might taste their water and explain the reason you ask.

http://www.newtonkansas.com/index.aspx?page=67
"Water production treatment activities entail pumping water from the ground water wells in the equus beds to the treatment plant and then adding chemicals for treatment and fluoride."

Anyone know whether fluoride gives a bitter taste?

chewie · #17 10/12/10, 12:27 PM

this is interesting. our water is fair, as far as public water goes.

i'd like to hear more about the distillers--why or if they are better than faucet mounted filters? what brands? hope this isnt' a hyjack, but i would love to know about how to better my water too!

Patt · #18 10/12/10, 12:57 PM

We use a Brita pitcher for our drinking water. Probably the cheapest if you are just worried about what you drink.

Txrider · #19 10/12/10, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foaly

City water

Very bitter taste

Does it come from a well or surface lakes...

Anyway, a good block carbon filter would likely deal with the taste on city water..

Even one of the Britta pitchers would likely get your taste better, easy, cheap and if it works acceptably you can then think about getting something bigger and better if you want to treat the water before the tap.

Danaus29 · #20 10/12/10, 01:12 PM

We got a Britta pitcher a while back. Don't get the one with an opening that can't be closed on the top. Stuff gets in there and it has to be cleaned frequently.