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A clarification of the bottled water post

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AUTHOR: Michael l Berard on 10/03/2024

I never meant that a consumer buying cases of water at the grocery was wasting money, my point was that at so many venues, water costs well over a hundred bucks a gallon. Why is my tap water only worth .003 cents per gallon, at the store maybe a buck a gallon, and at a concert 120.00 per gallon?

Which price is “correct”? Even at a store, if water is more than a nickel a gallon, that is too much. Water prices should vary by thousands of percent?

Imagine if you will, what might ensue if a gas station in California charged 10 a gallon, and one in Arizona charged 50 cents, and one in Massachusetts charged 100.

Instead of assuming that your tap water is not potable, why not have it tested , install a filter and or softener as needed, etc. If it cannot be brought up to safe standards, then buy bottled water.

And I use a CPAP machine and is does require distilled water, but, it costs a couple of bucks per gallon, and it is not tap water, it is distilled. I buy two gallons per month.

I will never feel that plain old water is worth what everybody charges, again, anything more than a few pennies per gallon is wrong.

I am not suggesting there is never a need to buy bottled water, I am steadfast, though, in that it costs far too much, by , in too many instances, thousands of percent. My previous house had a well , so, my only cost was for the electricity for the water pump, so, virtually free. Let’s just say it cost me .001 cent per gallon. Now, do the math and I hope you are shocked at the difference between that and 120 per gallon.

In many cases it is necessary to buy bottled water, but, there is no justification for the insane prices that are  so routinely charged, except greed.

Alas, I have always been sure that perhaps Einstein or Newton or Da Vinci was the wisest person ever to inhabit Earth, oh no, let us find the person who decided to bottle water, and make a figurative killing, and that person shall be capable to find the cure for everything that is a threat to humanity and Earth.

So, a price variation from virtually zero, to, 120 a gallon. But, those darn big oil companies, gouging us, etc.

 

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stelea99
4 months ago

The price of water, like real estate or other commodities is a function of market prices. In Death Valley, there is no water and if you were there and thirsty you might pay a lot to get some. You won’t find a drinking fountain at a truck stop on the interstate, but you will find lots of bottled water. It is expensive to run a store out in the boonies, so why give away water when you can charge for it. And, at concerts, and sporting events it isn’t just the water that is expensive. Ask your flight attendant the time you fly for some water. Get out your wallet first……

Linda Grady
4 months ago
Reply to  stelea99

Have we ever mentioned here that there are still water fountains near the gates in airports? HD readers and commenters, do you bring an empty water container with you through TSA, then fill it while walking to your gate? In some countries (China for one) you can choose between cold and boiling water at the airport because everyone carries tea leaves in their water bottles. Available on trains too, for free.

mytimetotravel
4 months ago
Reply to  Linda Grady

Yes, of course. My day pack has two outside pockets. I use one for a refillable water bottle and the other for a collapsible umbrella. If I’m in a country where I have to buy bottled water, at least I can buy bigger bottles and transfer it.

I seem to remember that Russian trains also had hot water, maybe even tea.

Linda Grady
4 months ago

As I’ve probably already said somewhere in an HD comment, one of the first things my grandson said when he arrived here to attend school was, “You know what’s the most awesome thing about America? You can just turn on the water and drink it. You don’t have to boil it first!”

Linda Grady
4 months ago

Thanks so much, Michael, for a hefty dose of the best medicine ever and it was free except for the electricity used to charge my cell phone’s battery so I could read your water columns and the comments.

H S
4 months ago

Where I live we have good water so I have no reason to buy. But respectfully I don’t think you are making an apples to apples comparison on prices. All venues like concerts or sporting events the food and drink is massively overpriced, no disagreement with you on that. Comparing water from home to a grocery store isn’t going to be accurate. That’s like me comparing vegetables I grew to the cost at the store. Of course the store is more. With bottled water the company has to account for its costs, the plant, materials, labor, fuel etc. At my local store a gallon of water costs 76 cents. The simple reason you see so many varieties of water is because the demand is there.

bbbobbins
4 months ago

I think you’re missing the bigger picture by focusing too much on water. Do you think coffee is much better? How about a branded t shirt? A sneaker? A sneaker that is a slightly different colour and hence a rare drop? Price sustainable in the market is rarely a function of absolute raw material cost.

Dan Smith
4 months ago

Mike, I knew exactly where you were coming from. While vacationing in Mexico, I could buy a single serving soft drink for a fraction of the price charged in the U.S., and this was on 5th Street, Playa del Carmen, the tourist area. Somehow the retailers here have convinced us that it’s okay to pay $3 for bottle of water or Pepsi or whatever.

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