Not everybody can drink their tap water. I live in a rural area of West Virginia and we don't get city water, our water comes from a well. We have hard water and although we have a water softener the water is still pretty undrinkable. It has an incredibly nasty taste to it with an even worse aftertaste. Many people around where I live have this problem. At my household we buy bottled water to drink, which is pretty expensive. I know the tax is just on pop but I honestly would not be surprised if they decided to tax bottled water too. I have to wonder what most of the people around where I live (who are desperately poor) are going to do when they start taxing soda.

maybe start by voting out the politicians who let mining operations polute and destory your country?

Or buy a Brita filter water pitcher. They're like 15 bucks.

Drink seltzer instead of sugar water. Save money on medical and dental bills for your kids. It's a win/win situation.

You can put some fresh lemon in for extra flavor - if you can't get that - use a little bottled lemon juice.

Yes they are and $10 bucks every 2-3 months for a new filter. Do you understand that a great number of people in the area this commenter lives simply CANNOT afford that expenditure? My husband has family in West Virginia, and when folks talk about dirt poor, they are the very definition of the term.

I also live in West Virginia... If you are paying so much money on bottled water, I'd highly recommend either buying water in bulk from a commercial provider (ie, 5 gallon jugs) or investing in a heavy duty purification system. The DEP should be able to provide you with water testing to determine if your water just tastes bad or if it is non-potable. Sunday's NY Times had an intersting article on WV water quality issues due to mine slurry being disposed of in abandoned deep mines.

There's always a possibility for petitioning the DEP and the nearby MTR company for them to provide water for you.

Yes, all mining should be done in other countries.

ladypyrate:

The OP specified that he consumed bottled water in the place of tap water. $10 every 2-3 months is likely far cheaper than purchasing bottled water. The OP highlights one of the interesting dilemmas facing those in poverty (not that the OP is necessarily poor). Often important resources are more expsensive for the poor to acquire than for the more well to do. Access to clean drinking water in Appalachia and the inner city is but one example. I can go to the tap, turn it on and be confident I'm drinking something potable. The poor in Appalachia and inner city have to pay the exhorbitant price of bottled tap water for the same privelege. Similarly, after working late I can take a 2 minute detour through a safe neighborhood to the local grocery store and pick up ingredients for a quick and healthy meal where my poorer counterparts have to walk far longer through or wait around for public transit in a less safe neighborhood. The alternative is perusing the offerings of the local convenience store, or possessing more foresite than myself and already having those items on hand.

For health sake, please bear in mind that those filters do not eliminate bacteria, and perhaps do not eliminate some extremely harmful chemicals as well.....

Ladypyrate - If they are truly that destitute, they should not be able to afford a pack of soda. Am I right? Then the argument is null because that's what we're talking about. (And honestly, the box tells you to replace it that often. You really don't need to.)