Sam's club water bottle question

**leighcat** · 04-20-2010, 12:57 PM

I got the regular 5gal bottles and the water is HORRIBLE. Tastes exactly like the smell of plastic or burning rubber. I have to empty my water cooler now and return the 5gal bottles I bought. I was thinking of getting the 4gal bpa free ones instead because the bottle looks like the kind that usually doesn't taste like plastic. It says on there that people use them once and recycle them, but couldn't I just re-use them?? I cannot drink water that tastes like this!!

**Libby** · 04-20-2010, 01:21 PM

Just wondering why you don't or can't drink water from the tap using a Brita filter? Easier to buy replacement filters and much easier to change/carry vs the 5 gallon jugs + no deposit fees.

My sister uses one on her tap and fills a pitcher designated for drinking water only. My friend uses the filter in the pitcher..she actually has 2, one for the counter and one for the fridge - she likes her water warm and her hubby likes it cold.

**craftypam** · 04-20-2010, 01:28 PM

Libby;
Do you know how long the filters last and how much they cost?

Thx

**leighcat** · 04-20-2010, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Libby

Just wondering why you don't or can't drink water from the tap using a Brita filter? Easier to buy replacement filters and much easier to change/carry vs the 5 gallon jugs + no deposit fees.

My sister uses one on her tap and fills a pitcher designated for drinking water only. My friend uses the filter in the pitcher..she actually has 2, one for the counter and one for the fridge - she likes her water warm and her hubby likes it cold.

I can't fit a Brita on my faucet. It is some kind of fancy shaped thing. Not only that, but the water is on a boil notice frequently here in the city and no filter will make me trust it enough to drink it!! This is one thing I miss about the country... the water and the bigger yard.

**Libby** · 04-20-2010, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Libby;
Do you know how long the filters last and how much they cost?

Thx

The pitcher lasts about 3 months with moderate/high volume usage. Depending on the model you choose some come with an indicator or you're supposed to count the # of pitchers or assume 3 months give or take on your water filtration consumption.

The faucet ones have a lil blinky light. It only flashes when you use it and it flashes green. As the filter gets near its end it flashes yellow to warn you to buy a replacement and red when you should stop using it. Its battery free as well! DF uses the faucet mounted one. I think he paid $30 to start unless you have coupons or find it on sale and then the filters are about $10-$15 - again depends on where you buy and with or w/o coupons.

Thats only for the Brita system...there's several other companies out now. But I think this is better in the long run - less hassles and its still filtered plus I use reusable water bottles on the go and at home.

Originally Posted by leighcat

I can't fit a Brita on my faucet. It is some kind of fancy shaped thing. Not only that, but the water is on a boil notice frequently here in the city and no filter will make me trust it enough to drink it!! This is one thing I miss about the country... the water and the bigger yard.

leighcat - sorry to hear that

Can you buy your water from another source? Grocery store, an actual water retailer location? Co-op/hardware store? And are you buying spring water or just filtered water sold in bottles? B/c that would be the same as you running it through the Brita filter. Just don't want you paying 10x more for the same thing you can do at home for less $ and hassle.

Check the source of your water - where did it come from and what type it is. Not all bottled waters are the same.

**leighcat** · 04-20-2010, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Libby

The pitcher lasts about 3 months with moderate/high volume usage. Depending on the model you choose some come with an indicator or you're supposed to count the # of pitchers or assume 3 months give or take on your water filtration consumption.

The faucet ones have a lil blinky light. It only flashes when you use it and it flashes green. As the filter gets near its end it flashes yellow to warn you to buy a replacement and red when you should stop using it. Its battery free as well! DF uses the faucet mounted one. I think he paid $30 to start unless you have coupons or find it on sale and then the filters are about $10-$15 - again depends on where you buy and with or w/o coupons.

Thats only for the Brita system...there's several other companies out now. But I think this is better in the long run - less hassles and its still filtered plus I use reusable water bottles on the go and at home.

leighcat - sorry to hear that

Can you buy your water from another source? Grocery store, an actual water retailer location? Co-op/hardware store? And are you buying spring water or just filtered water sold in bottles? B/c that would be the same as you running it through the Brita filter. Just don't want you paying 10x more for the same thing you can do at home for less $ and hassle.

Check the source of your water - where did it come from and what type it is. Not all bottled waters are the same.

The water isn't the problem. It is the bottles.

They taste like plastic. That makes the water taste bad, which is why I think the other bottles would be fine if I could re-fill them. I can get water for 25cents a gallon, I need the bottles first, though. I could also get free water from ex-dh who has a well and filter for free... I just have to find some re-usable bottles that don't taste nasty. I got a water cooler so that the water won't take up too much room in my fridge, and will encourage my kids to drink more water due to easy access.

**leighcat** · 04-20-2010, 06:16 PM

Here is a link to the bottles of water I was thinking of buying. I was going to just re-use the bottles. Does anyone see any reason I can't re-use them??

Sam's Club - Monadnock Spring Water Cooler Bottle - 4 gal.

**Libby** · 04-20-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by leighcat

Here is a link to the bottles of water I was thinking of buying. I was going to just re-use the bottles. Does anyone see any reason I can't re-use them??

Sam's Club - Monadnock Spring Water Cooler Bottle - 4 gal.

OOOH. I think I understand you better now. I thought your problem was with the water, not the container it came in. Have you tried a big chain grocery store to test out their bottles/brands? They may carry a diff brand and their jugs may be better.

**leighcat** · 04-22-2010, 05:42 PM

Well thought I would update- I think it was the machine that was making the water taste funny. I am going to return it to Biglots. It doesn't even keep the water very cold. I am also going to return the big jug of water and another empty jug I got just to be on the safe side. I am going to just keep some "milk" jugs around from water I purchased and re-fill those and keep them in the fridge.