Comments on: How to cope with foreign water http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/ German Quirks from an American Perspective Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:41:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: DeeHexi http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-23899 DeeHexi Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:15:57 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-23899 Tap water is the best thing to drink, but it depends on where you live. I was born up north in Germany and moved close to Heidelberg after 43 years. The water up north was great to drink, the water where I live now is nasty. Too much calcium and it clogs up everything in days. Just like Micha said. Hannover (north) and Koeln (more south) - big difference in the water. Scientists even state that tap water is the cleanest and better than bottled water since it is under constant control (which doesn;t change the nasty taste...) But I noticed that you find those typical american watercoolers in more and more offices. And I even have one in my kitchen (but that was a present from an american friend of mine who went back to the US). I "prettied" it up by painting it so it looks like it was custom made for my kitchen...grin. But now I have to ask friends that have a contract with a company who delivers the waterbottles to buy me some since we can not buy them on the economy. Makes sense? Tap water is the best thing to drink, but it depends on where you live. I was born up north in Germany and moved close to Heidelberg after 43 years. The water up north was great to drink, the water where I live now is nasty. Too much calcium and it clogs up everything in days. Just like Micha said. Hannover (north) and Koeln (more south) - big difference in the water. Scientists even state that tap water is the cleanest and better than bottled water since it is under constant control (which doesn;t change the nasty taste…)
But I noticed that you find those typical american watercoolers in more and more offices. And I even have one in my kitchen (but that was a present from an american friend of mine who went back to the US). I “prettied” it up by painting it so it looks like it was custom made for my kitchen…grin. But now I have to ask friends that have a contract with a company who delivers the waterbottles to buy me some since we can not buy them on the economy. Makes sense?

]]> By: piiet! http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-16796 piiet! Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:58:32 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-16796 Well it DOES taste like chlorine. And, of course, carbonated water is a good thing. Well it DOES taste like chlorine. And, of course, carbonated water is a good thing.

]]> By: Florian http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-13661 Florian Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:21:51 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-13661 I am German and also don't like carbonated Water. It's interesting. In Germany it's "Kohlensäure" (this in the drinks) and "Kohlenstoff" (like in CO2). In America you have only "carbonate" I am German and also don’t like carbonated Water. It’s interesting. In Germany it’s “Kohlensäure” (this in the drinks) and “Kohlenstoff” (like in CO2). In America you have only “carbonate”

]]> By: Micha http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-13293 Micha Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:13:34 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-13293 Usually you can safely drink tap water in Germany. But it just doesn't taste good in all places. I used to live in Hannover some years ago and the water there was just fine. But there are places you should avoid drinking out of the tap. Today I live in Köln an the tapwater is terrible. Full of lime! I have no idea if this is unhealthy or not but I don't care because it tastes just strange! And it slowly but surely kills your koffee-machine, water-boiler, washing-machine...I don't know where this crappy water just comes from...I hope they don't get it out of the filthy river (Rhein)...but I guess they use Rhein-water to brew their sad excuse for a beer (Kölsch) ...yuk! Usually you can safely drink tap water in Germany. But it just doesn’t taste good in all places. I used to live in Hannover some years ago and the water there was just fine. But there are places you should avoid drinking out of the tap. Today I live in Köln an the tapwater is terrible. Full of lime! I have no idea if this is unhealthy or not but I don’t care because it tastes just strange! And it slowly but surely kills your koffee-machine, water-boiler, washing-machine…I don’t know where this crappy water just comes from…I hope they don’t get it out of the filthy river (Rhein)…but I guess they use Rhein-water to brew their sad excuse for a beer (Kölsch) …yuk!

]]> By: ferric http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-9052 ferric Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:24:42 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-9052 So, I'm sitting here in Germany, lamenting the state of water. I drink a *LOT* of water - like more than the recommended daily minimums. So, coming to Germany has proved ..."interesting". I got to this page because I punched in "why can't all water be 'ohne Kohlensäure'?" The worst part about all this is, when you *DO* buy the un-carbonated "stille wasser", they look at you and mockingly as, "why don't you just drink tap-water: it's better quality than the bottled water." So, they KNOW that their tap-water is good (and probably better for the environment, overal," but the they persist in the atrocity that is "mit Kohlensäure". And, when you answer back to the "why don't you just drink tap-water" comment/question, "because no one will give me any in a restaurant," they give you the sarcastic smile. Bastards. =) So, I’m sitting here in Germany, lamenting the state of water. I drink a *LOT* of water - like more than the recommended daily minimums. So, coming to Germany has proved …”interesting”. I got to this page because I punched in “why can’t all water be ‘ohne Kohlensäure’?”

The worst part about all this is, when you *DO* buy the un-carbonated “stille wasser”, they look at you and mockingly as, “why don’t you just drink tap-water: it’s better quality than the bottled water.” So, they KNOW that their tap-water is good (and probably better for the environment, overal,” but the they persist in the atrocity that is “mit Kohlensäure”. And, when you answer back to the “why don’t you just drink tap-water” comment/question, “because no one will give me any in a restaurant,” they give you the sarcastic smile.

Bastards. =)

]]> By: thesukh http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4352 thesukh Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:00:39 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4352 I always ask for a glass of tap water in every bar or restaurant. I always GET my glass of tap water. No prob, but one needs to ask. By and by, however, there are coffee shops and bars where you get a glass of tap water - unrequested. I always ask for a glass of tap water in every bar or restaurant. I always GET my glass of tap water. No prob, but one needs to ask. By and by, however, there are coffee shops and bars where you get a glass of tap water - unrequested.

]]> By: Solrun http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4284 Solrun Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:17:42 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4284 Im an American who recently returned from living in Germany for a year. Now yes the carbonation can be quite annoying, but you really can't patronize them for thinking the American water is disgusting and overly chlorinated. It's just that we're used to it. Try it the next time you come back to America after being in a country like Germany for a long time. Its horrible! Im an American who recently returned from living in Germany for a year.
Now yes the carbonation can be quite annoying, but you really can’t patronize them for thinking the American water is disgusting and overly chlorinated. It’s just that we’re used to it. Try it the next time you come back to America after being in a country like Germany for a long time. Its horrible!

]]> By: Tilman Baumann http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4107 Tilman Baumann Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:42:33 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-4107 Here is my (biased inside) view on German water drinking habits: We drink tab water at home. These Soda Club or however they called Carbonating machines are a relatively new thing, they came into vogue the last years and are beginning to become unpopular again. The reason is our obsession with carbonized water. Germans would never buy just plain water in a bottle (exceptions exist), for plain water tab water is just enough. But carbonized is this little extra which many are willing to pay for, and 'schlepp' the bottles into our homes. Soda Club and Co are our way out of this trap. :) The reason why you see so few drinking water fountains in workplaces is that everyone would happyly fill his glass on a tab. No need for a water cooler, we don't like cool drinks anyway. And for selling the water in vending machines, plain still water has no selling point. This is why there is almost only carbonated water to buy anywhere. Ah and btw. restaurants are as far as i know required by law to give you tab water for free. But consume denial has a bad image, so few people do this. Here is my (biased inside) view on German water drinking habits:

We drink tab water at home.
These Soda Club or however they called Carbonating machines are a relatively new thing, they came into vogue the last years and are beginning to become unpopular again.
The reason is our obsession with carbonized water.
Germans would never buy just plain water in a bottle (exceptions exist), for plain water tab water is just enough.
But carbonized is this little extra which many are willing to pay for, and ’schlepp’ the bottles into our homes.
Soda Club and Co are our way out of this trap. :)

The reason why you see so few drinking water fountains in workplaces is that everyone would happyly fill his glass on a tab. No need for a water cooler, we don’t like cool drinks anyway.
And for selling the water in vending machines, plain still water has no selling point. This is why there is almost only carbonated water to buy anywhere.

Ah and btw. restaurants are as far as i know required by law to give you tab water for free.
But consume denial has a bad image, so few people do this.

]]> By: Andy K. http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-3404 Andy K. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:23:04 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-3404 People don't drink the water in the States because normal beverages are cheap, and you get free refills. Hence, the need for water is negated (unless you are out with college students, who will try to save money by having just water). When you pay 1,30euro for 200mL of coke, it's... well.... ridiculous. People don’t drink the water in the States because normal beverages are cheap, and you get free refills. Hence, the need for water is negated (unless you are out with college students, who will try to save money by having just water).

When you pay 1,30euro for 200mL of coke, it’s… well…. ridiculous.

]]> By: nii http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-2860 nii Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:06:50 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/16/how-to-cope-with-foreign-water/#comment-2860 I do drink tap water and I absolutely hate CO2 water! I'm glad I'm not the only one here. I do drink tap water and I absolutely hate CO2 water! I’m glad I’m not the only one here.

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