You could say the same for salt. It's fundamental to our survival, yet I tend to consume it mixed with other food, rather than on its own. I haven't seen anyone

You could say the same for salt. It's fundamental to our survival, yet I tend to consume it mixed with other food, rather than on its own. I haven't seen anyone but farm animals use a salt lick. It's fine to consume water mixed with things. Some of the people quoted do have serious problems, but I think that person was just contrasting choosing pure water and flavoured water when the choice is available. Either choice is almost entirely water, so there's little difference from the survival perspective. It's hard to say if that person has a problem or not. All we really have to go on is their own interpretation of their urine color.