Filtration Nation
August 3, 2004
My wife and I bought one of those water filtration systems for our faucet, figuring it would be a cost effective solution to buying bottled water. After installing the piece on our faucethead, I noticed that it mentioned in the instructions that you had to flush it out for 5 minutes. Afterwards it noted that the lifetime of the filter would be 100 Gallons or 4 months, whichever comes first.
The replacement filter costs $16.99 at Target and on rare occassions they’ll run a special knocking the price down about 10% of the original cost. This means that every 4 months when we have to replace the filter we’ll be spending almost 20 bucks a pop, which equals to the amount of about $60 a year. I figure we were spending close to $80 a year on bottled water (a few cases with about 4 or 5 milk gallons of water).
In addition to owning a faucet filter, we also own a pitcher which we fill and place in the refridgerator for cold water. My wife likes her water luke-warm cold, if there is such a thing, and I, on the other hand, prefer water ice — straight from the Artic — cold. This might be attributed to all those mountain visits I went on as a kid and drank straight from the creek.
Only one time did I have an unpleasant experience with cold water in Canada where I almost drowned in an ice cold lake after slicing the bottom of my foot on a smooth, but extremely sharp, stone.
Aside from that experience, I love the taste of water and have permenantly replaced my Coca-Cola drinking habits with the pure and unaltered taste of water.
12 comments
I drink tons of water at work (free bottles of Aquafina) and quite a bit at home. But I can’t get used to the filtered water. I think it has a strange taste to it that I can’t really put my finger on. It is a good money saving idea though.
And “luke-warm cold”? I think you’ve invented a new term!
by Todd on August 3, 2004 at 10:19 am. #
I never cared for water as a kid, but I’ve developed a taste for some of the bottled waters. A couple of the Canadian varieties have a hint of sweetness. I might be crazy. My favorite everyday drink is iced tea, but I’d rank water ahead of soda.
Oh, and I agree with your wife. Water is best served luke-warm cold.
by Greg on August 3, 2004 at 12:25 pm. #
Some time ago we made some work for a client who markets, among other things, a patented water purifier. Almost all of his publicity dealt with bioterrorism –jumping on the 9/11 bandwagon, of course– and how his water filter could save you from practically any biochemical/terrorist attack known to man. Corny and distressing, for sure — but it worked on sales I guess. Still, there’s nothing more refreshing than drinking a pitch of ice cold water in the midst of mid-90’s summer.
I am still trying to figure out what in blazes does “luke-warn cold” tastes like.
by beto on August 3, 2004 at 1:47 pm. #
Bah, filtered/bottled water has no character (although it’s infinitely preferable to the city water I have at my apartment). I’ll take freshly pumped water straight out of the Florida aquifer, thankyouverymuch
by Paul Griffin on August 3, 2004 at 1:52 pm. #
Actually, the water here in the Rochester, New York area (once home to the infamous Mike Rundle) is decent, but nothing to rave about. Compared to the water from my home back in California, it’s leaps and bounds (head and shoulders, knees and toes) better.
We’re actually doing this for our own benefit and that of our 7-month old daughter. I figure she deserves the best.
by kartooner on August 3, 2004 at 2:15 pm. #
Todd: I’m always inventing new terms, sayings, slang. Most of the time noone cares so I rarely mention them.
Greg: Wow, so you know what I’m talking about when I refer to luke-warm cold.
Beto: I think, by my wife’s definition, it would be “slightly cold, but more or less room temperature”. If it’s not ice cold water, lemonade is also a great summer drink, although the sugar makes you more thirsty with each glass.
Paul: City water is always nasty.
by kartooner on August 3, 2004 at 2:20 pm. #
Thanks for replying individually in that last comment. I’m stuck with IE at work, and I can’t see the name of each commentor.
by Greg on August 3, 2004 at 2:59 pm. #
Yeah, the padding and margin issues in IE are a headache, and I refuse to use any proprietary hacks.
by kartooner on August 3, 2004 at 3:03 pm. #
I drink water right out of the tap, but ironically, I need a splash of filtered water for my bourbon if I want to cut it a bit, depending on mood.
by max on August 3, 2004 at 3:07 pm. #
If its not ice cold water, lemonade is also a great summer drink, although the sugar makes you more thirsty with each glass.
I *never* put sugar on my lemonade. Cold, raw acid taste all the way for me
by beto on August 4, 2004 at 12:23 pm. #
Cold, raw acid taste all the way for me.
Must taste similiar to a Sour Patch Kid.
by kartooner on August 4, 2004 at 3:45 pm. #
You have to run it for 5 mins? there goes 1/3 of your gallon-ege right there!
by liz on November 14, 2005 at 10:55 am. #