Sustain LAist today!

Your monthly gift during our June member drive powers our local newsroom.
1,485 sustainers of 2,500 goal
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Throw Away Those Arrowhead Bottles Already:

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

One of my favorite food writers, Jeffrey Steingarten, once did an elaborate and methodical taste test of several different varieties of tap and bottled water. After much research and even more adjectives, he came to the shocking conclusion that New York tap water was most pleasing to the palate.

And now Los Angeles tap water has every right to brag as well: it won the award for best municipal water at the 18th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting held this weekend in Virginia, going up against waters from around the WORLD. That's right, we have the greatest tasting city water in the WORLD!

The title of best municipal water was shared by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves Los Angeles, and the town of Clearbrook, British Columbia. Los Angeles won a gold medal in 1998 and has been in the top five in four other competitions since then, according to the competition organizers.

This is only going to make me madder every time I go to Costco and see families piling crate upon crate of bottled water into their carts -- not only do those bottles NEVER biodegrade, but the water you're drinking is probably tap water itself. And hey, you know what else they sell at Costco?
Brita filters and gallon-sized water dispensers! I made the switch over to filtered tap last year and now I enjoy crisp, cold, taste L.A. water every day.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today