Drinking Water?

38POSTS

10 years ago

I assume the water out of the tap is drinkable? Do people use a filter? Let me know what you do on the island for drinking water without contaminates (chlorine, minerals, fluoride, etc). I currently have a reverse osmosis system in my house on the mainland, but we will be renting when we first get to PR and wanted to see what others are doing. Thanks in advance.

See also

Renting in Puerto Rico - Guide
Water service - 2 Replies
Electric and water set up - 3 Replies
Rain water collection systems - 8 Replies
Solar Hot Water Heater - 5 Replies
Residential Water Delivery - 2 Replies
hot water heater and water backup - 9 Replies

Sitka Serial expat

953POSTS

10 years ago

well...the water from the tap is drinkable, but we buy bottled water for drinking and making ice.聽聽

Once we have a kitchen, a filter for the tap will be on my list.

1 member reacted to this post

mac00677 Serial expat

380POSTS

10 years ago

Agreed; the water is safe, but better with a simple tap filter. I use P懦r filters.

1 member reacted to this post

sandrarduncan Serial expat

487POSTS

10 years ago

We have been told that pr water is safe .However I only drink bottled water. Sorry .I personally don't trust goverments

2 members reacted to this post

adlin20 ViP

1057POSTS

10 years ago

Most people used tap water to cook and buy bottle water for drinking. Mostly because of the taste. Most likely if you ask for water at a restaurant it will be tap water unless you ask for bottle.

1 member reacted to this post

lgustaf Serial expat

401POSTS

10 years ago

The EPA monitors PR water just like in the States. It is perfectly safe. I buy sparkling water (agua con gas) to drink mostly, just cause I like the little bubbles.

2 members reacted to this post

TravelingJ Active member

38POSTS

10 years ago

Thanks everybody! I found a portable (on the counter) filter online that says it will purify up to 3 gallons an hour. I will go to Home Depot and check it out and see if it oils something that will work. I drink around a 1/2 - 1 gallon of water a day, so I need to find a different option besides bottled.

I guess that brings another question, is recycling a priority in PR?

lgustaf Serial expat

401POSTS

10 years ago

In Old Town, where I have my apartment, there is one big trash container for recylables and one for regular trash on every block.

1 member reacted to this post

sandrarduncan Serial expat

487POSTS

10 years ago

In Rincon they come once a week for recycling. They give you a large bag for plastic paper and cans. However they don't recycle glass.聽 When I lived in cabo rojo and arecibo they didn't have recycling

1 member reacted to this post

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

10 years ago

#10

Recycling is its infancy in PR. Each town is different.

2 members reacted to this post

Schuttzie Serial expat

824POSTS

10 years ago

#11

TravelingJ, could you share which filter you found?

1 member reacted to this post

Karenqc Guest

0POSTS

10 years ago

#12

We bought this and we love it, the refill filters are very reasonable as well.

2 members reacted to this post

BrianTX Active member

44POSTS

10 years ago

#13

Quebradillas has recycling pick up once per week at your home as well

1 member reacted to this post

TravelingJ Active member

38POSTS

10 years ago

#14

Schutzie, the one I found was at Home Depot. Unfortunately they do not ship to PR, but I will bring down with me in my check-in luggage. It is called APEC Water system. Here is a link to it on Home Depot's website. Hope it helps.

Schuttzie Serial expat

824POSTS

10 years ago

#15

Thank you!

CurlyGirlPR Active member

33POSTS

9 years ago

#16

We have a filtered water dispenser in our refrigerator, that removes minerals, heavy metals, and other impurities, if they exist.聽聽To me, the tap water tastes slightly like dirt, so the issue is mostly one of taste.

I think most municipalities have recycling facilities, you just have to ask around to find them.聽聽Here in Aguada, there is a drop-off recycling center that accepts plastic, paper, and cardboard boxes.聽聽They do not accept glass, Styrofoam, or coated cardboard or paper (like soy milk cartons and shiny newspaper adds).聽 They provide a large garbage bag to pack your stuff in if you ask for one at the office next door.聽 I have been told that they will pick up if you call and schedule it, but we haven't done this as the center is just down the road and easy to get to.

1 member reacted to this post

bribri1913 Active member

41POSTS

9 years ago

#17

Where do you buy Purple filters.. we looked at Walmart and Kmart and could not find filters. We went to the Walmart in Isabela and a Kmart on the other side of Aguadilla

lgustaf Serial expat

401POSTS

9 years ago

#18

Try Home Depot.

adlin20 ViP

1057POSTS

9 years ago

#19

Amazon, they ship to the island. With Amazon Prime shipping is free to PR.

westernprguy Active member

63POSTS

9 years ago

#20

There is a water store in Mayag眉ez, sells reverse osmosis water for about 35 cents/gallon.

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

#21

taste is mostly modified by the active charcoal. you can install a filter under the sink to service a spigot and also the refrigerator, that way the refrigerator water and ice is being filtered twice and the refrigerator filter will last much longer.

Home Depot and Amazon best choices, also there are outfits that install filtration systems. for example. They also have water softener equipment if you have hard water.

Search for Purificadores de agua
or
Filtros de agua

richvide0 Active member

70POSTS

9 years ago

#22

lgustaf wrote:
The EPA monitors PR water just like in the States. It is perfectly safe. I buy sparkling water (agua con gas) to drink mostly, just cause I like the little bubbles.

Isgustaf, that is one of the only things I will miss about Argentina. Every week we have a delivery guy who delivers agua con gas in syphons (they swap out the old with the new). It's really cheap. We drink a ton of it since it's so hot. Every week we get 18 of them. At this time of year it's not uncommon for me to go through 3 of them a day since it's so brutally hot. We received 18 of them on Thursday and we are down to 3 full bottles left today (Sunday).

I added a link to a pic of our stash. I was wondering if PR had anyone delivering anything like this. It's much better than having to recycle tons of bottles every week and very convenient. Very old-school IMO.

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

#23

Fizzy water is not too common in PR. You can buy it but is not overly popular, I am not aware of any service like that but if you live in the metro area I am sure a distributor can deliver it just like they deliver to restaurants and hotels.

Most people drink tap water or filtered that has been placed in the refrigerator or right off the tap with some ice.

bkettren Active member

51POSTS

9 years ago

#24

I just returned from PR yesterday after a three week visit. I drank tap water in San German, San Juan, Mayaguez, Ponce, and Guayama.

Best tasting was Guayama. I had no health problems with the water anywhere.

1 member reacted to this post

ReyP ViP

5509POSTS

9 years ago

#25

bkettren wrote:
I just returned from PR yesterday after a three week visit. I drank tap water in San German, San Juan, Mayaguez, Ponce, and Guayama.

Best tasting was Guayama. I had no health problems with the water anywhere.

Yes, most people drink tap water in PR. It is required to meet the same standards as the US.
Thanks for reporting on that!
Rey

1 member reacted to this post