Why does New York have such good tap water?
The industry to encourage people to drink plastic bottled water is huge. While it might be a good thing in some cities and countries, when you are looking at the option to drink tap water in New York, tap water is the best choice for yourself and the environment. Here is a look at the development of good drinking water in New York and the reasons to choose tap over plastic bottles.
A brief tap water of NYC history
New York City is one of the oldest cities in the country, starting in the early 1600s as a Dutch settlement. At this point, the water can from wells, streams and ponds, but as the numbers living in the settlement grew so too did the need for clean water. As a result, they began to look upstate to Croton River in the mid-1800s and built aqueducts and large dams to bring the water from the river down into the city. In the early 1900s, it was realized that more water was still needed as the city’s growth continued to move rapidly and then they turned to the Catskill Mountains in the north. About 96% of the tap water in New York now comes from the watershed in the upper Hudson Valley and in the Catskill Mountains. The other 4% comes from the Croton River still.
Why choose to drink tap water in New York?
The water you get from any faucet or tap in New York is good, especially compared to a lot of other cities. Choosing tap water over bottled water is better for the environment, better for your wallet and better for yourself. Every week New Yorkers discard about 1.6 million pounds of plastic from water bottles alone. While some companies are making more strides towards using recycled plastics, or towards recycling in general, that plastic is still not good for your or the planet.
Why pay for water when it comes out of the tap? If you prefer the filtered nature of bottled water you could easily get a tool that allows you to filter the tap water. You could buy yourself one or more good re-useable water bottles so you can take water with you, and then you can refill them in public places or at public drinking water fountains throughout the day. You could have something put directly onto the faucet or have a large jug that filters the water that sits in the fridge. Then you have access to cold water whenever you want it.
Summary
It is safe to drink tap water in New York. It comes from a great source and the city ensures it reaches the necessary standards for it to be safe to drink. If you still want something filtered that is easy to achieve with the right device. The tap water in New York is better than a lot of other places so feel free to help the environment and save money by choosing tap water over bottled water in the future!