You know, I never fully appreciated the great water we have on tap, until we travelled around Australia with our caravan back in 2001.
Before that, I really couldn’t understand the craze for bottled water.
Can you imagine how folk only 20 years ago would have laughed at the thought of paying good money for a bottle of water?! Especially when it is freely (well not quite, we do have to pay for it in our rates bill) available at the turn of a tap!
As we travelled all over the countryside (just like the Leyland Brothers π ), we became true water connoisseurs. We never realised how good we had it in our home town, or how terrible the water was elsewhere!
- Adelaide water (apologies to any readers who live there) was every bit as foul as I’d been warned.
- Tasmanian water wasn’t much better –Β which surprised me, given the way the mere mention of the Apple Isle conjures up images of pristine nature.
- On the Nullarbor, we had to pay to take a shower or fill the water tank on our van – not so shocking now, but unprecedented back then (for us anyway).
- In Portland (Victoria), the hard bore water made it impossible to get any soapy lather when washing.
One of the best things about coming home from that trip (apart from our precious kitty cat Chloe running to greet us, miaowing enthusiastically, even after six months away), was being thankful for the water in our taps.
I don’t know if where we live (in the Redlands, just outside of Brisbane) has the best water in Australia, but what I do know is that it tastes great AND it’s a pleasure to wash with.
So today, I am thankful for water – and writing about it has made me thirsty so I am going to help myself to a refreshing glass of aqua fresca, right now!
What’s the water like where you live?!
Joining up with:
Denyse says
Water…we can’t live without it and our brains need it to function. I heard that from an education professional and from then on, teachers were encouraged to let the kids have drink bottles (water only) in class as hydration helps with learning. I love the convenience of various sized bottles of water which I can carry when I am out of the house. I also drink tap water. At times we can taste the chlorine. The good thing about drinking the tap water, particularly for kids, is that in my state at least, fluoride is added to the water. Kids’ dental problems are less when they drink this water. Great topic Janet! Denyse x
Janet Camilleri says
I’m not sure if there is fluoride here or not – it never used to be in Brisbane’s water supply because I can remember being given fluoride tablets when I was little. I like to take a bottle (sometimes purchased, sometimes my own bottle with tap water) with me wherever I go nowadays!
Deborah says
I started drinking bottled water (when out) in the early 1990s. I was a diet coke addict even then and I’d occasionally go to a local cafe for lunch with a work friend. I’d usually have had a DC or two or three and would be tempted to just buy another at lunch, but I figured if I was going to buy a drink I’d spend the money on water which is healthier.
Of course years later when I worked in developing countries I came to appreciate access to bottled / clean or filtered water far more…
Janet Camilleri says
Yes! I forgot to mention that I was very thankful for bottled water when we went to Bali earlier this year!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I’ll never forget when as kids Dad was transferred out bush to Mitchell (Qld). We lived there for 2 years when I was in mid primary school. There was BORE water out at Mitchell and it was disgusting! You had to boil it before you could drink it. There was no bottled water back then. So yes I am very grateful for our water too! π #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
It’s horrible to drink and to wash in!
Vanessa says
I don’t know if it’s the water or the pipes, but we have to run ours in the morning to get rid of the yellow. It does clear quickly but yeah… It’s not great!
Janet Camilleri says
Ewwwwww! I’d be tempted to boil it before use …
Kathy Marris says
We do take our goo quality tap water for granted Janet. We had the same experience when we travelled around Australia. Water is a precious commodity in the outback areas and we had to carry extra water with us and really watch every drop. I agree that our parents and grandparents would be in shock that we now actually pay for bottled water. π #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
Just one of the many things you learn to appreciate when travelling!
jo says
Our water down south is good, although in Perth it was very chloriney. When we lived in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal we had to put the water through various filters, five times, before we could drink it. Our kitchen was like a science lab!
Janet Camilleri says
Wow you have sure lived in some exotic places Jo!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says
I’m thirsty just reading about water Janet! Isn’t it surprising how water tastes different in each State. Also I find the water on the GC is different to Brisbane. Water is vital to survival and yes I’m a bottle water girl.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond.
Janet Camilleri says
Even in different towns Sue.
Jo Tracey says
Aaaah yes, the hard & soft water debate. It’s only when it tastes crap from the tap (or in Asia when you can’t drink from the tap) that you realise just how lucky we are. #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
Yes, I noticed that when we were in Bali at the beginning of the year.
Leanne says
We have a rainwater tank and I love having great tasting water to drink and in coffee etc. I don’t buy bottled water at all – except when we went to Bali – what a Godsend it was then (compared to years ago when it was hard to come by over there) last visit it was cheap and plentiful and very much appreciated!
Janet Camilleri says
When I was little, tank water used to freak me out because I worried about frogs or toads living in the tank. Mind you I don’t know where I thought tap water came from and what made it “cleaner”!
Amy @ handbagmafia says
Sydney water is pretty good, I reckon!
Janet Camilleri says
It seemed just fine to me when I was there in April for a couple of days π
Vanessa Monaghan says
I’m from Canberra and our water tastes the best of all the capitals I think π When I travel, the first thing I do is find a supermarket and stock up on bottled water. I also like rainwater – spent my childhood summers in South Australia where it was the only drinking water option and gave me an appreciation for how precious it is.
Janet Camilleri says
I can’t remember Canberra water – so it must have been okay! π
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I LOVE Canberra water. Love love love love love. I can taste water in other cities, but Canberra water just tastes totally fresh to me. For which I am grateful.
#teamlovinlife
Bec Senyard says
I’m so thankful for water too because it gave me a job. π
But water coming through a tap can be taken for granted and not everywhere in Australia has nice tasting water.
Pinky Poinker says
We’re drinking rain water up here and it’s the best water I’ve ever drunk. No chlorine or fluoride or whatever else goes into tap water. It was hard to get used to at first because it’s so soft I couldn’t wash the conditioner out of my hair!
Janet Camilleri says
I hardly ever use conditioner for that reason.