I live in Mexico, where everyone drinks bottled water due to the poor state of tap water. We used to give our pets tap water when we first moved here, but then it clicked that if we're not going to drink it, they probably shouldn't either. I give my pets the same bottled water I drink, though I'm not entirely convinced it's necessary, given the way they lick their own unmentionables and like eating food off the ground Better safe than sorry, though!
I do wish both they and I could drink the tap water. It would be incredibly convenient and save a fair bit of money. At the very least, the water I buy comes in 100% recycled plastic containers, and I've been saving them all up to recycle them again. Makes me feel a little less guilty about all that waste.
(06-28-2013, 01:09 AM)Rube Wrote: Even in poor water quality areas I think that boiling water and allowing it to cool would provide a safe drink for a pet.
I've seen some debate about this, since boiling will kill parasites but won't remove minerals, toxins, or debris. Don't quote me on that. I just figure if the people who have lived here for generations refuse to touch the tap water, I'd better follow their lead. I know my father has bought water testing strips (not entirely sure what they test for), and the tap water has always come up in the far-red danger zone. Scary!
Better safe than sorry, though!
