The Forestry Forum

So, what's your preference?  Poll ends:  7/23/07 or thereabouts.   ;)

All of the buildings on our property are supplied by a gravity fed spring. Our water is tested yearly and is very high quality, to the point that I am very spoiled when it comes to drinking water.


Dave

My tap water is spring water also,  I have a well, but don't use it unless absolutely necessary.  My water filter stays clean longer on the spring than it does when using the well. 

I too, am spoiled.

 Spring water here, too.  8) 8) 8)  Right outta the tap.  8)

I have a deep well.  Water is treated with a resin type water treatment system.  Best tasting water you could hope for.

Our tap here is not the greatest here so I opt for the Aquafina.  Two reasons: 0 taste, easy to carry where I go.  Paying for bottled water is crazy but I hate having to taste what I drank 10 minutes later. ::)

"City" water.........direct from the Memphis aquifer; fine, fine, fine.   8)

Rather interesting timing on the poll.

Guy just left a little bit ago after hand-delivering a "Boil Water Notice" here in town.

Out at the house, we get water from a rural provider who, fairly regularly (to me, anyhow) posts "Boil Water Notice" signs on the roads.

We use 'bottled' water for drinking, tea and coffee making.  We buy gallon jugs of distilled water for such things. 

If it gets bad enough, I'll go to the creek.   ;D

My well water is about the best you can find. No odor or taste or discoloration. Been tested every so often and no nasties. I'll take it before I'd drink store bought water. There is calcium in it, but that's benign and good for the bones anyway.  ;D

Our town water is pretty good, drawn from a mountain stream up by the National park boundary.

At my old farm we had artesian spring water, a bit of mineral content, but crystal clear and beautiful to drink. It was pumped to 4 surrounding farms and watered about 2,000 head of cattle (it was quite and impressive spring  :) )

As an aside, most bottled water in NZ is either Auckland or Christchurch city tap water. The Christchuch stuff is better, it actually comes from gravel filtered aquifers around the city and is sold as natural spring water - which is true, just its exactly the same as the city tap water.  :D the Auckland stuff is just tap water too, but its just sold as 'bottled water'.

Cheers

Ian

Has anyone seen Penn and Tellers Bull**** episode on water? It's hilarious.


Dave

I have city water and drink out of the tap all day. It has to be "clean" per state standards, but the water treatment guy gets a little overzealous with the chlorine at times, yuck . The best tasting water is at my Grampa's well, right out of the ground..clean, fresh and cold. It is a good underground sandbed spring. This time of year you can't beat "sun tea",  throw some tea bags in a glass jug with water from the well and let it set in the sun for a few hours. Pour it in a glass of ice and enjoy.

I drink filtered tap water.  Filling up all those 20 oz water bottles is a pain.  Glad I have a wife!  smiley_thumbsup

I even filter my dogs' & cat's water.

I cluck on "out of the tap" because most of the water I drink is at the shop, straight outta the well.  We have a filter on the house inlet, so that would apply part of the time.  My wife let a Rainsoft guy come out one time and his expensive system was unable to beat our simple filter. 8) 8)  The Brita pitcher put him even further behind.  I can't tell the difference in the filtered tap water in the house and the stuff straight from the well, but I can definitely tell if it has been through the Brita.

We have very good municipal water here so we use the tap. A community north of here has very bad water, bad enough that i thought the guy before me forgot to flush.

Another spring fed.  Have a big cistren to collect/let settle and it's quite a bit higher than the house, nice pressure for free ;D, don't matter if electric goes out either :)  

The whole hillside is is full of springs, the one at the bottom of the hill supposedly comes out from 4000 ft down and was used by the Indians before Columbus got here.  They have a spa and a bottling Co.

Was I wrong to post "other"? It is out of the tap sort of.......

Quote from: tcsmpsi on July 09, 2007, 06:31:07 PM
If it gets bad enough, I'll go to the creek.   ;D

If you go to the creek, say hello to the little yaupon family for me :).

My favorite is straight outta the garden hose when it's 95 degrees outside and I'm soaked with sweat :).

My water is from a 89 foot rock well and run through an aerator to get rid of sulphur and then pumped straight to the house.

I drink tap water and refuse to pay stupid prices for the bottled stuff.  >:( As far as I'm concerned, there is no advantage and I have to recycle the plastic bottle. The best water comes from the mountain springs beside the road.

I have a fairly new well that is down about 160 feet but we have high iron content water. The best water here is from the Jordan Aquifier that comes out of Lake Superior but you have to go down almost a thousand feet for that water. So my wife has Culligan water delivered for drinking water and I buy cheap bottled water for working in the woods.

I was at a dairy auction in Wisconsin a few years ago and the milkhouse had a lot of red iron stains. One other visitor was talking to the owner and asked about the poor water. The owner said "that's why we just drink beer."  :D

well water...

I thought I would never buy bottled water. Until our city water started tasting like mold. You would drive by the lake where our water comes from and you could smell the moldy water.

My well water ranges between looking like blood and looking good. I fill 5 gallon containers with town water and drag them home for drinking and cooking.

It can be a bit of a shock to open your eyes in the shower and it looks like blood on the floor  :o and when you towel off, the towel turns red/rust color. Yuck.

Someday, I'll have to pay to have another well drilled. What a rip-off.

We have to buy water.....got high nitrates in our well...or should I say that high enough that I won't drink it. I pay more for water than I do gas....... >:( >:( >:(

Quote from: WDH on July 09, 2007, 11:42:30 PM

Quote from: tcsmpsi on July 09, 2007, 06:31:07 PM
If it gets bad enough, I'll go to the creek.   ;D

If you go to the creek, say hello to the little yaupon family for me :).

I always do.   ;)

Water makes rust. I don't need rust so I try to drink the barley flavored water, it's been filtered.

whatever comes out of the well is what I drink. Once in a while in the summer it gets a very very light sulpher smell to it.
Most of the time its just fine.

I drink what ever water I can find and keep my teeth together to strain out the larger creatures. ;D

Bob

My tap water is spring water 8)

Our water comes from a hundred feet under the town. Very soft tastes excellent fresh but let it sit ten minutes and it tastes dusty. Makes lousy coffee, I bring water from the river for that. River water is real hard.
sawdust

Quote from: pigman on July 10, 2007, 08:35:09 PM
I drink what ever water I can find and keep my teeth together to strain out the larger creatures. ;D
Bob

That sure creates an interesting visual image :-\.

We bought bottled water for the forum members at Sawlex. We had a case left when we came home.  I took it to the cabin and every time I empty one., I refill it out of the tap and put it back in the fridge. I also have 3 2liter diet coke bottles I keep frozen half full in the freezer. I get one out, fill it on up with water so I have something cold to drink when I am in the woods.  I keep the smaller bottles to drink around the cabin.  I love the water here at home and at the cabin, especially when its cold.

My daughter worked for a water treatment company and got us an undersink reverse osmosis. I always liked the city tap water until I changed the prefilter for the first time :o :o :o That thing was as red as Georgia clay and would come off on my hands just like that. Don't drink much tap water these days. That's a long ways from a can on a post by the farm hydrant.

I would have alot of concerns about farm drinking water these days. My 47 year old brother is on that farm I grew up on, and he is just getting started battling stage IV colon cancer. They switched to bottled drinking water in the past, don't know how many years. With no history of cancer in our family it sure seems like it must be environmental.

My drinking water starts from a 50'- 2" pvc well through a carbon filter then to the tap. We use bottled water too. Refill and freeze them for drinking in the woods also.

Back in the "good old days" they had bottled spring water too. After drinking one, 20 min. later you had to run for the bath room.  ::) You can goolge Pluto Spring Water-- French Lick, Indiana for more info. I'm not to good with this kind of machine. ::)
SE

We pulled a water line off the city main one time to clean the pipe out that leads to the house.  After I saw what the city "flushes" their line with smiley_eek_dropjaw  I try to avoid it at all possible.  Looked something like sand that dissolves when you rub it between your fingers.  Guess that's why the aereators are on the end of the faucets for, to dissolve that junk before you see it.  The city and plumbers both said it was normal and ok to consume.  I put some in a cup and asked if either wanted a sip, I got no takers... :)

Quote from: Dodgy Loner on July 09, 2007, 11:59:02 PM
My favorite is straight outta the garden hose when it's 95 degrees outside and I'm soaked with sweat :).

It's been raining (heavy showers) every day in the woods, so I can't tell if I've sweat or if it's just the rain. I take my water jugs with me though, when I'm wacking away at the bushes.  ;) ;D

I have a 320 foot deep well, its slightly sulphury but has enough calcium (oops, not calcium. Limestone?) and iron to make up for not taking mineral suppliments. I figure its better for me than the unknown stuff in plastic bottles and its alot cheaper to boot. Never did understand paying 1.00 or more for a plastic bottle of water.

Quote from: WDH on July 11, 2007, 10:32:55 AM

Quote from: pigman on July 10, 2007, 08:35:09 PM
I drink what ever water I can find and keep my teeth together to strain out the larger creatures. ;D
Bob

That sure creates an interesting visual image :-\.

Try picking up your hard hat in the morning after leaving it sitting on top of your saw in the bush after a rainy night. There must have been about 50 of them slimy slugs inside mine this morning.  ;D :D

"Out of the Tap" could be well water, or city water. To me, a big difference. So, should I vote "other" ??

Our WI water is very good, a 320' well.

Well, this is a deep subject, and one that is near and dear to my heart right now.  We've been having water troubles lately, namely not much of it.  The well has been getting wimpier and wimpier for several months, and had gotten to where it was difficult to take a good shower.  We had good pressure, but it would quickly go away, leaving us with just a trickle.  I've had my bid in for the well guy's attention for a couple of weeks, and he finally came out yesterday.  He took the well pipe loose from the pump and turned it on, and only got a stream about like a healthy baby could pee.  He captured some water and found algae in it, and concluded that the pump was clogged with algae.  He told me exactly what to do, and left.  I went to town and got 5 gallons of Clorox, and poured 3 gallons down the well.  I rigged an old piece of garden hose onto the well pipe, put the other end down the well, and turned on the pump.  I ran it like that from 4:30pm until 1am, and the only difference was that the water turned a very dark brown, about like some really nice Walnut.  I turned it back on this morning, and it was still the same color and the same volume.  I put the hose into a 5 gallon bucket and it took 9½ minutes to fill it up.  I called him back and he advised that I gently pour some sand down the well to provide some abrasive action.  I got a coffee can full of masonry sand and poured it down in little bits, over a few hour's time, and noticed a larger volume of murky water.  I took the hose out and let it pump until the bleach smell was gone, and by that time I could fill a 5 gal. bucket in about 4 minutes.  Long story not quite so long, by 4:30pm today, I could fill the bucket in exactly 2 minutes and the water was clear enough to see the bottom of the bucket.  I hooked it back up and we now have water again. 8) 8)  We'll be drinking bottled water for a little while, but we can bottle our own at my step-daughter's house.  The well guy told me true, and he got to see me cut up a little ol' pine log, too.  I got out of this mess for less than a hundred bucks, including the Clorox, and learned a whole lot about water wells in the process! 8) 8) 8)

BTW, he says I should be getting about 10gpm instead of 2½gpm, but it might get better as time goes on.  He recommends repeating the treatment in a week or two.

beenthere

It doesn't matter if its city or well water, if you drink out of the tap, that's what you do. ;)

I have city water and don't find any problem with it.  Others find it offensive and either filter it or buy bottled water.  Same goes for tap. 

We have guys at the mill that don't drink water at all.  They favor ice teas and Cokes.  I'll settle for water.

I prefer water to anything when working. The sugar stuff just makes me all that more thirsty. Anything tea, coffee or cola just dehydrates.

I grew up with city water,cloride and all that good stuff.When I moved out ,I still had it.Probaly had it for 35 years.Than I moved here and we have well water.Not all that much differance to me in taste.I do drink alot of water.I always have a jug close to me when it is warm out full of ice and water.My wife is real picky with her water.When we go out to eat she refuses to drink some of the water.

Sorry guys posted in the wrong thread  :o

Quote from: SwampDonkey on July 13, 2007, 05:55:47 AM
I prefer water to anything when working. The sugar stuff just makes me all that more thirsty. Anything tea, coffee or cola just dehydrates.

It took me 36 years to figure that out.  You are SO right!

I can't drink very much plain water with out getting pretty sick.
Don't matter if it's bottled, well, or city water.
When working in the heat, I can handle more water before it bothers me, but it will still bother me.
Sweetened water don't bother me and don't make me any more thirsty then I was.

I have poor well water and don't drink it plain from the tap. A little sugar and flavoring and I drink it by the gallon.
I keep bottled water on hand in case I just want some plain water.

Quote from: SwampDonkey on July 12, 2007, 09:10:09 PM
Try picking up your hard hat in the morning after leaving it sitting on top of your saw in the bush after a rainy night. There must have been about 50 of them slimy slugs inside mine this morning.  ;D :D

SD Now try putting on the earmuffs without looking at what is inside first  :o :o ::)


Water: I drink out of the tap.  Very good well water.  I have moved enough over the years, and had houses with good water and bad water.  Good water is priceless ;)
max

Quote from: Furby on July 13, 2007, 11:47:49 PM
I can't drink very much plain water with out getting pretty sick.
Don't matter if it's bottled, well, or city water.
When working in the heat, I can handle more water before it bothers me, but it will still bother me.
Sweetened water don't bother me and don't make me any more thirsty then I was.

I have poor well water and don't drink it plain from the tap. A little sugar and flavoring and I drink it by the gallon.
I keep bottled water on hand in case I just want some plain water.

A few years ago I was helping my neighbor put up his hay. It was 100+ in the shade. We stopped to take a break, I got out my water jug & offered him some. He said, no thanks, I never touch the stuff, told me he got sick on it once and hadn't drank a drop in over 40 years. Amazed, I asked, what do you drink? he said all he ever drank was beer & coffee. He was in his 70's.

We have a 600' well that only yeilds 3 gallions a minute but the water tastes great. Last year we put in a 2000 galion concrete resevior. Made the water cloudy so we're using a Britta filter till it clears up.

Quote from: Max sawdust on July 14, 2007, 08:14:02 AM

SD Now try putting on the earmuffs without looking at what is inside first  :o :o ::)

I use plugs in the summer months.  Earmuffs are too hot in the heat. ;D

Here in New Hampshire, we have the best water in the world.  Or at least that's what my father always said. 8)

Well water out of the tap.  I run it through a softener to make laundry better and keep fixtures from turning white.  I also use my air pump system to get rid of the sulphur odor. 

There are almost zero regulations on bottled water.  I'm not saying you ever hear of anyone being poisoned by that over priced stuff that is usually nothing more than tap water. But when is the last time you heard of anyone being poisoned by well water?

I'll stick with well water and leave the chlorine for my swimming pool.

bob...

Well, and we don't soften the drinking water or the outside taps, ......but do soften the hot water, and the cold to the toilets, bath, shower and laundry.

Spring Water, And some times a little something made from spring water ha/ha

   I checked other because we have well water.  It is different.  It comes from 600 ft down through solid rock.  It would be what some refer to as hard water.  But it is clear and cold.  Do not drink any bottled water or water from town.  Take it from the house or sawyard or just drink Dr. Pepper.  Every 10 years of so you just throw the hotwater heater away and put in a new one.  Coffee pot will last about 2 years.  Granny has been on well or spring water her whole life and she is just 94.  She said that there were very few times that she had running water till she was 30 when she and Grandpa put in a well when electricty came into the area.  But she said that there were times when she was younger that she would run with the bucket from the spring and have running water.  ;)

Great grand father had a hand pump on this well, then father modernized it in the 60's. We never had toilet though until I was 5 or 6, maybe going on 7. I know when I was eight we remodeled the house. Grandfather's was always on a spring house piped to the house by gravity up 'til 1994 I think when dad drilled a new well down there for my brother. My cousin is still on the same old spring house water. That spring fed a watering trough for the cows all summer until it froze in winter. Non stop.  So there was two houses and a barn yard on the same old spring.  8)

Water in SoCal has probably traveled a couple of hundred miles to get here. I don't really trust it too much.
My wife will only drink bottled water. I use the Brita pitcher for most of what I use. We also use a whole house system that uses an activated charcoal filter.

The absolute best water I've ever had was straight from the tap in Merced, CA....must of been spring fed. It felt as good as it tasted when I took a shower. I've never had anything that came close. Makes me want to go back to Merced and see if it's still true.

I always thought that poor water quality was a CA issue but it seems like if you're getting clear clean good tasting water from a well, then you're one of the few lucky ones, no matter where you live.

All we drink is natural spring water.  We make a trip out of going for the water as we pass right by one of our favorite fishing holes.  I have been known to drink right from the spring.  The water that comes from the spring is sooooooooo cold that if you're not carefull enough you'll freeze your teeth (atleast it feels so).  I take along with me a 2" collapsable hose to fill jugs usig gravity.  In a matter of about a minute or so a 5 gallon jug is full.  The spring also never freezes up in the winter even with 40 below temperatures. ;D

whole city is soft water--and they use plenty of chlorine!!!!!!!!!!!--so wont drink out of tap--but theres a filter on the fridge--and ice!!!!!!!!!!! and its not half bad--but my dads wellin the country is some mighty fine h2o!!!!!!!!!!