I live in one of those areas now.
Do whatever you can to get a reverse osmosis filter. Out the door you're looking at around $300, then a recurring cost of around $60/yr in filter replacements.
It might be hard to find that money up front, but if you're buying small bottles of water you'll break even really quickly. You also might find yourself drinking more water when you no longer have to open and throw away another bottle.
EDIT: I linked this in some replies but just to save people some time,this $229 6 stage RO and remineralization system is what I use. Not affiliated with amazon or APEC, just really happy with what I have and was as surprised as some of these replies have been about how affordable it is.
Life straw is not a great product. Spend a little extra and get the Sawyer. It is a better, more useful product. It just doesn't have as cool of a name.
Get a sawyer mini instead, about the same price and you don't have to bend down and stick your face in the water.
Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filtration System, Single, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1FJXCbNV7FQ2S
Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filtration System, Single, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MzGzDbKTT58GD
I have an in-line attachment for hydration pack.
There’s a little pump too.
Water Purifier Pump with Replaceable Carbon 0.01 Micron Water Filter, 4 Filter Stages, Portable Outdoor Emergency and Survival Gear - Camping, Hiking, Backpacking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NVCBWVV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MBGzDbY1W35D3
New window and new doors. It's so much more quite now. Blocks all but 90% of the road noise.
summertime: swamp-cooler
edit: actually a 5 filter reverse osmosis for drinking water
Yeah, this is a great point. I'm not aware of any guides either, but I'd love to hear of any that anybody knows about.
I might suggest:
A backpacking style water filter - I have this one, I like it and I think it's generally well thought of, and it's $20.
Bulk sacks of rice, beans, flour, or other dried staples, depending on what you actually use. They're cheap, will store forever (look out for mice, though), and you can use them regularly in your day to day cooking. Just maybe don't let them get below half full or so (depending on how many people you need to feed) before buying another.
Doing these two things will at least let you be self-sufficient for the absolutely essential.
Picking up a few more blankets when you find a good deal will help if it's winter when it happens. A backpacker's solar panel for charging phones would be nice and not too expensive. A propane cook stove and a few bottles of propane if you can afford them and the space to store them. And good relationships with friends and neighbors will be invaluable, so be sure to work on that too :)
you can grab a 5 stage APEC brand reverse osmosis system off amazon for right at $189. I have one, bought my brother and sister each one for their birthdays. they gag now when someone cooks with or makes coffee, etc with tapwater. the difference in taste is astounding. https://smile.amazon.com/APEC-5-Stage-Reverse-Drinking-Water/dp/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=XDBME728KNXM&dchild=1&keywords=apex+5+stage+water+filter&qid=1614055201&sprefix=apex+5+stage+%2Caps%2C957&sr=8-2
Potentially, a sawyer squeeze water filter could be life changing. Popular among long distance backpackers for its light weight, it is also quite effective at... well... filtering water. If you’re out in nature, I would always suggest bringing a water filter. Amazon Link for the Product
I grew up drinking city water all my life and recently bought a house with my wife that has a well. Our water tested fine but I just couldn't handle the taste of it. We hated drinking our water. I decided to give a reverse osmosis filer a try. Bought this from amazon, iSpring RCC7AK 75GPD 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Alkaline Mineral Water Filter System with Brushed Nickel Faucet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LJ8EXU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Iqxsub17JXMEE
I could not be happier with purchasing this system. I installed it on my basement and ran a line to my fridge and sink for a second faucet. The water tastes like bottled water. The filters aren't super cheap but it's well worth the couple hundred dollars for like 3 years of filters. If you have the ability to install one of these I highly recommend it.
I picked this one up from amazon last year. No complaints so far. (This model requires drilling your sink but, I think there are other models for no-drill instillation.)
I have moved 3X with my APEC system
Have to tap into the Cold, and adapt the drain, but these changes are relatively easy to reverse (tip: take apart your drain, buy a matching piece, and zip-tie the new one under your sink somewhere, so voila it's right there when you need to move out). Not the smallest but I always found a way to fit the filter unit and tank thingie under my sink.
If it helps any, we purchased this reverse osmosis system about a year ago and have been super happy with it so far. Great tasting water and the replacement filters are pretty cheap. Installation is pretty easy, too.
Try a reverse osmosis system for aquarium instead of brita, since it is not only removing chlorine but also reduce the EC of water and let you control everything on the feed side.
I went from 400 EC tap water to 6-10 EC and the average you want is 400-1300 EC depending on the life stage of the plant.
The beauty is that the 300-400 EC removed by the RO system can be replaced by 300-400 EC of nutrients.
If you exceed the wanted level of EC, your plants will have difficulty taking water and soon after you'll get that nutrient burned look :)
BTW im in coco, still a good thing when growing in other media to lower the EC/PPM and remove chlorine
EDIT: the RO System also got my ph down a bit since here tap water is hard 7.5-7.9 ph, If remember it is a 6.8 - 7 ph after treatment.
what i got: https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/gp/product/B07H2TSNZM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
APEC Water Systems ROES-50 Essence Series Top Tier 5-Stage Certified Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_X5XF8DNY2SYQN9RZ0GHD
Seconded on the under-sink RO system, unless you have very specific needs for the rest of the house. We've been using this one since 2014 and it works great, filtering out around 90% of the dissolved solids and leaving great-tasting water for drinking and brewing tea/coffee. I can pull around 2.5 gallons of water from the tank before it slows down, and it takes a couple of hours to recharge fully. I did have a plumber install ours, but it didn't seem that involved so you might be able to DIY if you're skilled with that.
I had this for over a year. Water tastes better than ever. Change filter once a year and they are like $25
Your on a good start, your best bet imho is to concentrate on breathability of your clothes in hot weather (depending on your area) and also keeping warm when at high altitudes (again depending on your area) If there is 2 things I would try to always have in a day pack it's an emergency bivy bag like this;
https://www.rei.com/product/862117/sol-emergency-bivy-xl?
And a way to filter water such as;
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_E33D5Z6HX3B74FEEDHR9
I have had more than once where I didn't bring enough water, and this saved my butt.
Past that, clothing of the correct type are very important, but I am still novice at this. I use smartwool for early or late in year, and mostly polyester in summer.
I would welcome others with more experience for clothing advise.
Not sure if it's portable enough for you, but I've really enjoyed my APEC Countertop RO System. It's slow but reliable and gets my ~300 ppm TDS water down to <10 ppm.
RO system all the way. We bought this about 2.5 years ago and I’m totally off bottled water. I take my own to restaurants even. We love it.
APEC Water Systems ROES-50 Essence Series Top Tier 5-Stage Certified Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_52X15PTWNSJEJ17EDX6A
If you want to get crazy you can get a house in line water filter and get hose attachments for it
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https://www.amazon.com/DuPont-WFPF13003B-Universal-000-Gallon-Filtration/dp/B007VZ2O0Q/
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You can get 5ppm filters for those. I'm not sure what the RV filter is rated at, but probably around 30ppm.
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But the RV filter is just super easy, cheap, and does an awesome job. Just have to make sure every time you use it you let the first 5 gallons or so go on the ground, as it likes to burp activated charcoal.
Around 1999/2000 my family became a bottled water/water delivery only family. Those big ass Poland Spring Fridge Dispensers, Water Cooler Tanks, and various size sports bottles add up over the years.
After moving to central Suffolk around about 6 or 7 years ago, I had the Water Authority over to test our water. Report showed everything was "within safe parameters".
What they don't tell you, is that some of the more concerning compounds have no legal limit establish nor has any mitigation/filtering technology in place.
This is the undercounted RO filter I got off Amazon a few years back. I got the Icemaker/Fridge Adaptor as well.
This company also makes whole house systems + RO Drinking/Cooking system that can be purchased for under $3,000.
I stay on top of the filter replacement, and check the total PPM with a tester about twice a year. haven't had any issues with it.
If you are worried about missing mineral flavor you may want to look into mineral drops or something like Third Wave water supplements for coffee brewing.
Condo HOA fees includes water so idgaf about the waste water ratio but from what I understand it may impact you bill significantly.
Don't do it. Buy a Sawyer Mini if you want something cheap and functional.
https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2
I have 2 RO filters.
One at work, about 4 years old. It's an Ispring.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XELTTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_byldGbYVNFE9W
Highly satisfied with what I got for what I paid. Was only like $125 when I purchased. I have replaced every filter on it and it just does its thing.
One at home, recently installed.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00204CQF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_lBldGb5MZRN3M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Again, highly satisfied with what I got for what I paid.
The big difference between the filter prices is all about what was included with each. The cheaper, 2nd filter did not come set up for continuous use. There was no storage tank, check valve or auto shutoff valve. I already had, or purchased these parts separately because I had different operational plans for the 2nd filter than the first.
The first filter came with a faucet and is mounted on a sink. When I want to fill a 5 gallon jug with it, I put some tubing over the faucet and into the jug, turn it on and come back in 20 minutes or so.
Thr second filter came with no dispenser. I have it rigged into our ice maker on our kitchen fridge (ice got MUCH clearer) but it actually has a smaller storage tank than the Ispring (1 gal vs 3 gal) because I teed into the output line and put a valve and a float valve on the end of 50 feet of tubing. So, I can reach 50 feet away with my float valve dispenser. Set it up, turn it on and check back - whenever. This reaches my outdoor brew cook spot so I can fill straight into a pot there for heating water or anywhere inside that I historically have mashed in coolers.
In both cases I fill gallon jugs for some fast easy access water.
I also fill our cat waterers with RO water.
If you decide to do all sorts of stuff with yours like I did with my 2nd one I highly advise buying the fitting kits that have lots of fittings. While I have never lost one, the little lock rings are tiny and some of thrm roll well.
I have this one and like it so far:
APEC Water Systems ROES-50 Essence Series Top Tier 5-Stage Certified Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_mpldGbYK0AAWF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
It takes my water from about 400 ppm TDS to about 20 ppm
I'm not an expert, just someone who did minimal research and got a reverse osmosis system for under my kitchen sink. It wasn't too hard to install and I don't experience any water pressure issues. It definitely works as the smell of chlorine is totally gone and the ppm has gone from mid 200's (tap water) to between 10-20 (RO water).
This is the one i bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Don’t know if someone already said, this is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/Express-Water-Reverse-Osmosis-Filtration/dp/B00J2DGTD8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=ro+system&qid=1609535914&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQjJGUlpSWVNDRU5NJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPU...
I actually kind of just guessed on the price as it had been a while since I got it,but I just looked it up and its $228 on amazon
Install is DIY, I'm not sure what a local installer would charge but its probably around 30-45mins of work as long as your sink is fine and already has an extra hole for this (it might be under a big wide 'cover' plate)
Water usage will definitely go up. This was the hardest part to convince my dad of how little this matters. Tap water is SO much cheaper than any other form of water it really doesn't matter.
Like if you're going to drink 2liters of tap water, but you don't like the taste so you need to choose between:
Thats from math I did in another thread using the EPA average tap water price compared to the $3 for 40 80oz packs another redditor had found. Obviously prices differ all around.. but not by enough to ever make bottles cheaper.
Or you just..don't drink as much water as you otherwise would. I know I've drank a LOT more water now that I don't have to look at the pile of plastic bottles that piled up every day. Not having to take trash or recycling out as much is yet another huge perk of getting this.
I have the iSpring under-sink version. I bought it because it was the cheapest one on Amazon at the time. It's been three years; it's been reliable and filters are cheap. Printed instructions were crap, but they have a video on youtube that made installation doable.