Back here at BC, bottled water consumption seems to be an inevitable part of everyone’s life. One can’t walk five minutes in any direction on the BC campus without finding at least one person clutching a bottle of water in his or her hand. So, despite the possible uncertainties of bottled water, BC’s choice seems to clearly lean away from the questionable taste and health level of Boston’s tap water.
Students here at BC clearly do not trust the local tap water. The results of a cursory search for information were not awe-inspiring. The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority’s Web site has detailed information in scientific and layman’s terms on all of Massachusetts’ local water systems. While MWRA is quick to assure people that the water is safe, questionable comments from their 1999 Water Report page include that algae can sometimes cause a “fishy” or “grassy” odor, or that consumers may sometimes taste and smell the chlorine in the water. Other parts of the Web site detail problems such as water turning yellow or brown due to the antiquated maze of pipes the Massachusetts water system depends on. The MWRA claims most of these inconsistencies can be alleviated by drinking from a bottle of tap water in the refrigerator, but it seems that there are some truth to the claims about Boston’s water.
The tap water’s bitter aftertaste has left BC students chugging one of three types of bottled water available on-campus: Evian, Carrabassett and Dasani. Evian, the apparent Mercedes-Benz of bottled water judging by its hefty $2.75 per quart price, also comes in a smaller bottle for students on the run. According to Evian’s Web site, Evian is actually bottled at its source in Evian-les-Bains, in the French Alps.
Evian offers a very unique, smooth taste that “slides down your throat” in the words of one anonymous student. As Evian is the only on-campus bottled water offered in the larger quart bottle, the thirst of the student might be another deciding factor in Evian’s popularity.
Spring Break
