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Copenhagen tap water is chalky - your glasses get cloudy when washed with it. It's also not very good tasting to a lot of people including me. To me, there is

Copenhagen tap water is chalky - your glasses get cloudy when washed with it. It's also not very good tasting to a lot of people including me. To me, there is great water throughout scandinavia with the exception of denmark because of the chalky soil.

Sami_Lehtinen 11y ago
I would probably consider that water bad. Because in the water in Chicago, New York and Washington is Ok. But in Miami it was just wasn't that great anymore. Having chalk in the water is a sure way to run it's taste. Actually I'm quite curious how it's possible that Singapore had good water. From geography alone I would assume it's water would be bad.
- s_q_b 11y ago
  Washington state, or Washington D.C.? Because D.C.'s water is actually so bad it can be dangerous. You can't even believe the water quality reports because the Federal agencies distort them wildly. There was a massive scandal that resulted in both the CDC and EPA being caught falsifying evidence. See the WASA lead contamination scandal from 2001-2010, in which the EPA falsely claimed that the water was safe, even as their treatment chemicals were dissolving lead in pipes and joints. The CDC was charged with determining the extent of the problem, and claimed that the high levels of lead were not a public health risk, a claim that later investigators from independent institutions stated were "scientifically indefensible." Lead levels in the last decade were found to be as high as 83 times the acceptable standard for drinking water. The water comes from the Potomac, is heavily treated with chloramine (which unlike chlorine dissolves lead), then runs through mains which were laid generally between the Civil War and WWI, and finally into old 5-6 story buildings (which due to height restrictions are often remodeled but seldom rebuilt), almost all of which have lead in the plumbing. The water is so bad that even the heavily filtered water at my home has a terrible taste. The government claims that the problem is "almost certainly resolved" after the addition of further treatment chemicals, not including the removal of chloramine, which frankly makes their claims implausible. The Washington Post estimates that ~15,000 households in the city are still receiving extremely high dosages of lead. Oh, and the Potomac is essentially sludge downstream from the city. The beautiful waterfront in Georgetown is actually the site of a CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow), so that every time it rains, the city's untreated sewage is dumped at the very location where the river is most used.
  - eli 11y ago
    To be fair, the people wgo still have high lead in their water is because they have lead pipes on their property.
    - s_q_b 11y ago
      The lead is in the mains, and with most of the apartments in any decent neighborhood approaching 1 million for a two bedroom, it's not like you can purchase a building and replace the plumbing. The problem is a government that injected a cheaper treatment chemical into the water supply that dissolves that lead, and then lies about it to the public.
      - eli 11y ago
        Do you have a link with more details? I was under impression vulnerable lead mains were replaced
        s_q_b 11y ago
        Dashing this off from the Christmas table, so as expected most immediate Google results are the government pages. Here's the replacement description. You'll notice that they're still actively replacing mains (at an extraordinarily slow rate, essentially whenever a line needs service.) If memory serves, the main line for half the city was laid during the Lincoln administration. I believe the average annual replacement rate is around 1%. Replacement information: https://www.dcwater.com/lead/scheduled_replacements.cfm https://www.dcwater.com/lead/scheduled_replacements.cfm
- oska 11y ago
  > Actually I'm quite curious how it's possible that Singapore had good water. From geography alone I would assume it's water would be bad. It's an interesting subject to read about. Here are some links: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in... * http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapores-water-supply-where-does-it-come-from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapores... * http://www.dw.com/en/singapores-toilet-to-tap-concept/a-16904636 http://www.dw.com/en/singapores-toilet-to-tap-concept/a-1690...
- MrQuincle 11y ago
  Just came back from Singapore. The water is nice indeed. Hasn't a chalky taste. I found the water in New York (Manhattan) too chalky as well. This is the water purification setup near my home, Rotterdam, the Netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGw8FH3I58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGw8FH3I58. I guess it's a setup like everywhere else. Of course the Dutch have a name in the water industry, so there might be more reason to do it right than in other countries. Still, there are plenty of things to improve. - The systems for sewerage and surface water / rain are not separated everywhere for example. - The "Hoogheemraadschap" responsible for keeping surface water clean is the oldest political system in Holland. At first sight a nice idea, but do we really have to democratically elect these people? What about firefighters, police officers, army generals? - A friend of mine organizes a yearly swimming event in the Maas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse). It's still not as clean as it could be though. The industry, for example Sitech, dumps chemicals in the water and institutions like the one above don't fine fast and high enough. If you're Dutch you can watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99WW9ALModY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99WW9ALModY
mcv 11y ago
In my experience, Amsterdam has the best tap water. I haven't found a mineral water that tastes that good.
- bjelkeman-again 11y ago
  I think it must be what one is used to. I am in Stockholm but visit Amsterdam often. I prefer Stockholm water.
Tharkun 11y ago
It's an acquired taste. I grew up in an area with very hard water. Whenever I drink tapwater that isn't hard as rocks, I get disappointed. It's just so...bland.

Sami_Lehtinen 11y ago

I would probably consider that water bad. Because in the water in Chicago, New York and Washington is Ok. But in Miami it was just wasn't that great anymore. Having chalk in the water is a sure way to run it's taste. Actually I'm quite curious how it's possible that Singapore had good water. From geography alone I would assume it's water would be bad.

s_q_b 11y ago
Washington state, or Washington D.C.? Because D.C.'s water is actually so bad it can be dangerous. You can't even believe the water quality reports because the Federal agencies distort them wildly. There was a massive scandal that resulted in both the CDC and EPA being caught falsifying evidence. See the WASA lead contamination scandal from 2001-2010, in which the EPA falsely claimed that the water was safe, even as their treatment chemicals were dissolving lead in pipes and joints. The CDC was charged with determining the extent of the problem, and claimed that the high levels of lead were not a public health risk, a claim that later investigators from independent institutions stated were "scientifically indefensible." Lead levels in the last decade were found to be as high as 83 times the acceptable standard for drinking water. The water comes from the Potomac, is heavily treated with chloramine (which unlike chlorine dissolves lead), then runs through mains which were laid generally between the Civil War and WWI, and finally into old 5-6 story buildings (which due to height restrictions are often remodeled but seldom rebuilt), almost all of which have lead in the plumbing. The water is so bad that even the heavily filtered water at my home has a terrible taste. The government claims that the problem is "almost certainly resolved" after the addition of further treatment chemicals, not including the removal of chloramine, which frankly makes their claims implausible. The Washington Post estimates that ~15,000 households in the city are still receiving extremely high dosages of lead. Oh, and the Potomac is essentially sludge downstream from the city. The beautiful waterfront in Georgetown is actually the site of a CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow), so that every time it rains, the city's untreated sewage is dumped at the very location where the river is most used.
- eli 11y ago
  To be fair, the people wgo still have high lead in their water is because they have lead pipes on their property.
  - s_q_b 11y ago
    The lead is in the mains, and with most of the apartments in any decent neighborhood approaching 1 million for a two bedroom, it's not like you can purchase a building and replace the plumbing. The problem is a government that injected a cheaper treatment chemical into the water supply that dissolves that lead, and then lies about it to the public.
    - eli 11y ago
      Do you have a link with more details? I was under impression vulnerable lead mains were replaced
      - s_q_b 11y ago
        Dashing this off from the Christmas table, so as expected most immediate Google results are the government pages. Here's the replacement description. You'll notice that they're still actively replacing mains (at an extraordinarily slow rate, essentially whenever a line needs service.) If memory serves, the main line for half the city was laid during the Lincoln administration. I believe the average annual replacement rate is around 1%. Replacement information: https://www.dcwater.com/lead/scheduled_replacements.cfm https://www.dcwater.com/lead/scheduled_replacements.cfm
oska 11y ago
> Actually I'm quite curious how it's possible that Singapore had good water. From geography alone I would assume it's water would be bad. It's an interesting subject to read about. Here are some links: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in... * http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapores-water-supply-where-does-it-come-from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapores... * http://www.dw.com/en/singapores-toilet-to-tap-concept/a-16904636 http://www.dw.com/en/singapores-toilet-to-tap-concept/a-1690...
MrQuincle 11y ago
Just came back from Singapore. The water is nice indeed. Hasn't a chalky taste. I found the water in New York (Manhattan) too chalky as well. This is the water purification setup near my home, Rotterdam, the Netherlands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGw8FH3I58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGw8FH3I58. I guess it's a setup like everywhere else. Of course the Dutch have a name in the water industry, so there might be more reason to do it right than in other countries. Still, there are plenty of things to improve. - The systems for sewerage and surface water / rain are not separated everywhere for example. - The "Hoogheemraadschap" responsible for keeping surface water clean is the oldest political system in Holland. At first sight a nice idea, but do we really have to democratically elect these people? What about firefighters, police officers, army generals? - A friend of mine organizes a yearly swimming event in the Maas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meuse). It's still not as clean as it could be though. The industry, for example Sitech, dumps chemicals in the water and institutions like the one above don't fine fast and high enough. If you're Dutch you can watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99WW9ALModY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99WW9ALModY

mcv 11y ago

In my experience, Amsterdam has the best tap water. I haven't found a mineral water that tastes that good.

bjelkeman-again 11y ago
I think it must be what one is used to. I am in Stockholm but visit Amsterdam often. I prefer Stockholm water.

Tharkun 11y ago

It's an acquired taste. I grew up in an area with very hard water. Whenever I drink tapwater that isn't hard as rocks, I get disappointed. It's just so...bland.