For context, I live in Hong Kong where most people drink tap water after boiling first. Some may install water filter but may still boil the water. Very few drink bottle water unless they’re outside and too lazy to bring their own bottles.
Now, I’m researching whether I can drink tap water in Iceland (I’m going there in August), and while it looks like the answer is affirmative, almost no web article mention whether I need to boil the water first. People in Japan (a country I’ve visited a few times) also seems to be used to drink tap water directly without boiling.
The further I searched, the more it seems to me that in developed countries (like US, Canada and the above examples), tap water is safe to drink directly. Is that true? Do you drink tap water without boiling?
It sounds like a stupid question but I just can’t believe what I saw. I think I experienced a cultural shock.
Edit: wow, thanks so much for the responses and sorry if I didnt reply to each one of you but I’ll upvote as much as as I can. Never thought so many would reply and Lemmy is a really great community.
2nd Edit: So in conclusion, people from everywhere basically just drink water straight out of tap. And to my surprise, I checked the Water Supplies Department website and notice it asserts that tap water in Hong Kong is potable, like many well-developed countries and regions.
However, as the majority of Hong Kong people are living in high-rise buildings, a small amount of residual chlorine is maintained in the water to keep it free from bacterial infection during its journey in the distribution system. Therefore it is recommended to boil the water so that chlorine dissipates.
So, in short, I actually do not need to boil the water unless I hate chlorine smell and taste. But I guess I’ll just continue this old habit/tradition as there’s no harm in doing so.
In Germany tap water is considered “one of the most strictly controlled food products”
Yes. And i’m always stunned by how many people buy loads of bottled water at the Getränkemarkt. Just drink it from the tap or get one of those machines that make sparkling water if you like that?! There is no chlorine in ordinary german water and it tastes just fine.
I was one of those idiots. I sort of inherited the behavior from my parents.
When my employer bought some sparkling water machines, it dawned on me that I should do the same.
I just moved here, I usually drink tap water but some places just have a weird taste to it which makes me wonder how often the individual taps are tested. While the source may be good, I don’t know about everything in between. I feel like I still need a filter.
Do the home machines even have a lower environmental footprint? You have to continue to buy canisters of CO2
The CO2 comes in returnable metal bottles which get refilled after you return them. There’s almost nothing disposable at play. If you buy the recent and more expensive models, you even get glass bottles, so less plastic, too.
good quality water is an underappreciated factor in quality cuisine.
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