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Subject Topic: Drinking Water
Page:  1  2 Post Reply Post New Topic
21/6/2023 at 11:24am
 Location: Dartford Kent
 Outfit: VW T6 conversion
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I remember my first trip to France as a young exchange student, being dispatched by my parents with purification tablets, coffee and other foods, as an emergency ration pack for my hosts. They gently indicated to me that France had as high standards as we had, and showed me how to make salad. Tablets went in the bin. But it does seem that some prejudices die hard!

It is instructive to look up the EU drinking water directive. From the overview:
“High quality, safe and sufficient drinking water is essential for public health and well-being. Besides consumption, we also use it for many other purposes, such as washing, cleaning, hygiene, or watering our plants.

Most people living in the EU already enjoy very good access to high quality drinking water, thanks in part to over 30 years of EU policy on drinking water quality. This policy ensures that water intended for human consumption can be consumed safely, leading to a high level of health protection.”


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23/6/2023 at 12:37pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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I've always used local tap water ... France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal et al ...
At home it's fine ... soft water area.
I've always thoughtthe bottled water industry is an example of phenominally successful marketing ... surveys used to ahow that bottled water had a higher bacteria content than tap waterv ... no idea if thats still true.
Still confused when I see people with trolleys full of water, when the stuff is free from taps ... and, probably, mostly very safe taps.
I'd rather save the money and use it on the miraculously converted stuff.


via mobile 23/6/2023 at 1:36pm
 Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
 Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3
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I agree with Keller, drunk it straight from the tap with no known ill effects.
Whether you drink tap or bottled it doesn't do to think about what fish have been doing in it!
DaveS1


23/6/2023 at 2:17pm
 Location: nr Derby
 Outfit: Phoenix 440+
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Well all my family are still here and we've been frequenting campsites in France for over 40 years and the only time we've used bottled water was when the children very young.

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Grahame


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23/6/2023 at 4:05pm
 Location: N. Ireland
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 304
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I drank the water on a Brittany campsite back in 1982 against advice and had half a dozen mouth ulcers the next day. I still buy bottled water in France today, for two reasons : one, its a habit now and two, the French consume bottled water at an incredible rate, and to me they do that for a reason, whatever that reason is.
Back to the mouth ulcers, I was prone to them at the time and so it is entirely possible that what is fine for one person is not for another. As ever, do what you feel comfortable with, there are no "one size fits all" decisions.


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via mobile 23/6/2023 at 8:58pm
 Location: Cumbria
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 520
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We just drink the local tap water unless specifically told not to do so.


23/6/2023 at 9:17pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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I've never bought bottled water in Europe, except on a campsite near Barcelona, where the tap water tasted vile.


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24/6/2023 at 7:49am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate
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Just a reminder not to drink the water which is delivered through your aquaroll. Here's a thread I contributed to in 2013 and my feelings are still the same. For a picture answering 'Why not?' scroll down to my post at the bottom of page 2 and have a look at the photo! This is despite the aquaroll and pipework being sterilised before each trip.

Why we don't drink water from the Aquaroll:

Since that photo was taken a friend, a Professor of Microbiology, had a look at the gunk inside and it's a mixture of bacteria and algae of various sorts, none of them good for you, and some of which can cause serious and potentially long term effects. This is despite the aquaroll, pump and pipework being sterilised before each trip. Apparently it's a growing problem wherever PVC pipes are exposed to light.


24/6/2023 at 10:51am
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
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I remember staying in a hotel in France some years ago and saw a bottle water as a freebie in the room. I did not carry a refillable bottle with me in those days, so I decided to take it with me when I went out, and drank water from the tap.

I had DA soon afterwards.

I have not drunk tap water when I travel abroad after that.

Hence the first thing I normally do when I get back to UK from abroad, is to drink the tap water.

DK

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* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


via mobile 26/6/2023 at 8:03am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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When on France, we use tap water for making tea and coffee and for cooking, and bottled water for cold drinks.


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via mobile 26/6/2023 at 8:40am
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Same here.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


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via mobile 27/6/2023 at 1:54pm
 Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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Be sure to ask for bottled water in French restaurants as they tend to bring you tap water otherwise.
This usually results in the delicious meal evacuating your body prematurely. Not fun on hiking trips.
The suggestions to stick to wine or cider are very prudent.

-------------
Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag


27/6/2023 at 2:29pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 26/6/2023
When on France, we use tap water for making tea and coffee and for cooking, and bottled water for cold drinks.



Same. However, I also decant any surplus freshly boiled and cooled water into a glass jug stored in the fridge for drinking when I am camping.

When I was on road trips in my car, I bought and carried a small electric kettle so that I could use it to boil water in the hotel rooms, and then save the freshly boiled and cooled water in a plastic bottle afterwards.

DK

-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *


via mobile 27/6/2023 at 3:13pm
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Always just drink the tap water in France. 🤷👍



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