General Cycling Discussion - public water supply

In many countries esp southern europe, every village has an open air public water supply. Riders often stop off to refil, so they dont need to carry all the water they need. The water is regularly tested by the public health dept.

In the UK, public supplies are pretty rare, you usually have to ask at a pub (where they can't refuse you).

What is the situation where you ride?

Water is not hard to find. Yummy water is.

The only problem I have with city water is it's chlorine content. I add orange juice to city water to flavor it. The water at my house seems better, though.

As Mike Stone discovered earlier, bottled water makes cycling more expensive than buying gasoline. However, two bike shops I have frequented both serve free bottled water in paper cups.
But I don't feel like outwearing my welcome.

Water filter systems such as Brita and Pur effectively remove bad tastes from tap water. And the price per gallon is only a few cents.

Originally posted by MichaelW


In the UK, public supplies are pretty rare, you usually have to ask at a pub (where they can't refuse you).



I didn't know that :)

Richard

At one time, any public park had at least one drinking fountain, often more. Now they're increasingly rare. I pointed out a broken one to the City people in charge, and was told they try to keep them working, but it's hard because of vandalism.

It figures.

My favourite public drinking fountain is on an ocean-view bluff, just west of the rangers' station, at the top of the Torrey Pines State Reserve. It is my reward after a series of switchbacks and 10- to 12-percent grades.

Johh E. We often frequent the same watering holes. I tend to favor the city park on the North end of Carlsbad, near the community center. Seems I think I know where water pressure is greater and surroundings more pleasant.
I work in water treatment and over the years have collected water samples. I tend to feel safer with chloramines in our water. I will take the chloramines over 'bugs' any day.
I have collected from consumers point of service treatment devices. Without proper maintenance, I will take the public water supply most any time. I just flush the lines a while.
Other watering spots, the city park near Swami's in Solana Beach, and Guajome Park( Oceanside) for on the way home refills..
Of course when We ride all the way to Old Town and take the Coaster back to Oceanside, the favorite watering hole- a sandwich shop in Old Town that serves a 'yard of beer.'
John. Any favorite food stops?
The half way point before the return ride to Fallbrook is a "Little Bit Moore," in Encinitas. Been there? That is our Thursday ride's lunch.
Usually when climbing Torrey Pines, we are fully hydrated before the ascent at the State Park entrance on the beach.. Can't place the ranger station....

Our water supply is pretty good and it's fairly easy to find a tap.

Most petrol / gas stations have easily accesible taps. There's also a tap or two in many parks around the place.

If you ride in Australia you should take your own water.

In many petrol stations the water comes straight out of the sewerage system.
As this has no odour or taste (but is still full of disease), you can't tell where it's from.

Michael!

In my area , I cycle through some historically old villages and towns , many of them contain, usually in the old village green/square, water troughs known locally as "pants", these stem from the days when everything was moved/transported by horse and the pants were allways flowing with fresh water for man and
beast.
Many of them are now dissused , but there are still several that still have delicous cold, even in the hottest of weathers , water .
I often stop on riding through to refresh myself . Do`nt know if this meets with any of the regulatory drinking water rules.
But i am still here, too tell the tale :beer:

I sometimes work in Malvern, where a natural spring in the volcanic rocks is piped to the village. I always take a few bottles to fill up at the constanly flowing tap. It is once of the nicest spring waters I have drunk.
Cadburies-Schwepps have a bottling plant nearby, and you can buy it for 50p for 250cc at bars, restaurants and railway stations.
Just opposite the spring, at Tescos supermarket, you can buy all the other imported spring water at similarly inflated prices.
How can you sell bottles spring water, when its available free !