Taboo to refill water glass onboard?

[Casinocim]

Hi all,

Perhaps a silly question.

Determined to pack lighter on my upcoming trip on the SWC, wondering if it's ok to keep filling the same glass with water from the spigot in coach?

Is this okay with everyone? Or is it considered gross and unsanitary? I have only seen people use the little paper cups. Would love not to have to drag around all those darn water bottles, they get heavy.

Thanks

 

[PerRock]

I tend to carry along a Nalgene or Sigg water bottle & refill it from those spigots. So personally I don't have any problems with it. However I have been told off before by passengers for just using it (with the paper cup). I think for the most part the only people who are going to say anything are going to have an issue with you using period, not over what cup you use.

peter

 

[me_little_me]

Hi all,

Perhaps a silly question.

Determined to pack lighter on my upcoming trip on the SWC, wondering if it's ok to keep filling the same glass with water from the spigot in coach?

Is this okay with everyone? Or is it considered gross and unsanitary? I have only seen people use the little paper cups. Would love not to have to drag around all those darn water bottles, they get heavy.

Thanks

You mean your own glass? What business is that of others? Your "germs" do not contaminate the spigot when you reutilize your own glass or paper cup.

 

[boxcar479]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

 

[amamba]

An OShA rule - really? My office banned bottled water and wants us all to reuse our own bottles (nalgene or sigg types) frOm te water cooler thing - which is a fancy filtered tap water.

 

[Old MM]

If you need to have a lot of water to drink (as does my son), bring with you a couple of water bottles.

 

[Casinocim]

I tend to carry along a Nalgene or Sigg water bottle & refill it from those spigots. So personally I don't have any problems with it. However I have been told off before by passengers for just using it (with the paper cup). I think for the most part the only people who are going to say anything are going to have an issue with you using period, not over what cup you use.

peter

Interesting, free water, don't use. hboy:

I wonder what they think it is for?

 

[Casinocim]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

No restroom filling, who knows what has been left on those faucets!

 

[PerRock]

I tend to carry along a Nalgene or Sigg water bottle & refill it from those spigots. So personally I don't have any problems with it. However I have been told off before by passengers for just using it (with the paper cup). I think for the most part the only people who are going to say anything are going to have an issue with you using period, not over what cup you use.

peter

Interesting, free water, don't use. hboy:

I wonder what they think it is for?

They're usually the same people who don't drink their local tap water & yet buy the local bottled water, which is just tap water. To some people drinking water only comes in a bottled form & they often will be more then happy to stop you & inform you of your wrong doing.

Here in Ann Arbor we have some of the cleanest tap water available (according to our local utilities newsletter) in the US. However I know a number of people who refuse to drink it as they believe that it is dirty and that Arbor Springs Bottled Water* (made here in Ann Arbor) is much better for you, even though it says right on the bottle that it uses Ann Arbor's Tap Water. And they will happily tell me off when I fill up my glass from the sink.

peter

 

[SubwayNut]

I refill my water bottle from the on-board fountains all the time, where depends. If I am on a Superliner I generally reach over the upper level service area (that is never used) and use the water spigot there that is designed for filling up pitchers and works quite nicely for a water bootle on the rest of the fleet the success of fitting my water bottle beneath varies.

 

[stntylr]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

Great, now I've got something to worry about everytime I get a drink of water onboard.

 

[cirdan]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

I wonder if this somebody dreaming up rules far removed from the facts.

Is there any evidence of anybody ever having caught germs from sharing a fountain?

 

[NomDePlume]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

I wonder if this somebody dreaming up rules far removed from the facts.

Is there any evidence of anybody ever having caught germs from sharing a fountain?

No, a show similar to Myth Busters busted that one unless the spigot is obviously dirty/contaminated. Let the water flow first then put the container underneath it, the flow gets rid of most germs.

 

[Lakeshore]

I have refilled the bottled water bottles in coach before. I also refilled those small bottles they give you in the sleepers several times before throwing them out. Personally, I just don't like to make so much plastic waste.

 

[benjibear]

Even on soda dispensers at restaurants some states and local regulations will not allow you to refill a cup if the dispenser is lever type. Some jurisdictions only allow button type or they need to give you a new cup if you want a refill. The idea is the cup should never touch the area where the soda dispenses. Same can be true water. Many fast food restaurants have the button type where you fill your own drinks.

 

[cirdan]

I have refilled the bottled water bottles in coach before. I also refilled those small bottles they give you in the sleepers several times before throwing them out. Personally, I just don't like to make so much plastic waste.

+1

 

[RailRide]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

(having read the rest of the thread)

I've re-filled juice bottles from the coach taps before, but if I really felt this was a concern...well the paper cups are conical--I'd tear off the bottom of (an unused) one and use it as a (still sanitary) funnel to fill the bottle.

---PCJ

 

[Old MM]

Years ago on the Wolverine, we noticed that the water from the spigot had a strong rotten-egg odor. Ever since then, I bring water bottles, even though it was more than likely, an isolated occurrence. Other than traveling I have no use for bottled water - here in Michigan we have excellent tap water.

 

[boxcar479]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

No restroom filling, who knows what has been left on those faucets!

My point exactly.!And who knows where the person filling their water bottle from the spigot, where their lips have been

 

[VentureForth]

There is no closed system from the municipal supply to the spigot in the coach. They fill water from a garden hose sprayed into a funnel. Not to say it's not clean, but not exactly sterile, either.

That being said, I prop my bottle against the back, not the lip on the spigot.

Water taste is varied depending on where the train is serviced. I usually take a bottle of Mio flavoring or powders.

 

[the_traveler]

Personally, it's not the spigot that I'm concerned about. It's the water tank! I highly doubt those in car water tanks are emptied and scrubbed clean after each trip and then refilled! I'd say they just refill them, and "maybe" clean them once a year, or maybe when if goes in for servicing!

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Personally, it's not the spigot that I'm concerned about. It's the water tank! I highly doubt those in car water tanks are emptied and scrubbed clean after each trip and then refilled! I'd say they just refill them, and "maybe" clean them once a year, or maybe when if goes in for servicing!

So that's what gives Amtrak coffee its distinctive taste! :giggle:

 

[Casinocim]

I refill my water bottle from the on-board fountains all the time, where depends. If I am on a Superliner I generally reach over the upper level service area (that is never used) and use the water spigot there that is designed for filling up pitchers and works quite nicely for a water bootle on the rest of the fleet the success of fitting my water bottle beneath varies.

I will keep this in mind!

 

[Casinocim]

It's actually and OSHA rule that we have to abide by on construction sites. Theory is if you put the bottle opening against the spigot (which some will do on a moving train to keep a steady stream going into the bottle) the leftover germs from your last sip out of that bottle opening will contaminate the spigot. So if you want to re fill your water bottle, you should always do it from the faucet in the restroom.

I wonder if this somebody dreaming up rules far removed from the facts.

Is there any evidence of anybody ever having caught germs from sharing a fountain?

My sister always shares the story of a gal she worked with got some nasty herpes sores or something all over and around her mouth. Doctor thinks she picked it up from a drinking fountain.

 

[Casinocim]

Thank you everyone for your opinions.

It's not whether it's taboo or not to refill, it's what is hanging out on those spigots

I'll probably refill, I hate lugging around the bottles and just generally hate having to buy water to drink.