Originally Posted by
storewanderer
However, I do want to point out that most bottled water in the US is simply bottled tap water from some plant somewhere, sure it is "filtered" but so is the water in the hotel gym... assuming they have replaced the filter in the gym water dispenser... not sure how much different that is from the bottled water is... However if the gym water dispenser filter is of concern, you probably don't want to consume any food or drink on hotel property either as the filters need to be replaced on the water equipment in the bar/restaurant too.
I’d see two things different between a bottle of Dasani and drinking from a Marriot hotel filter:
First, as you indicate, I’d be concerned as to whether the filters would actually ever be cleaned. It’s not hard to find a U.S. Marriott where filters on air con are obviously way past their service date, for example. I’ll usually not eat on-site at a US hotel, but if I did I would assume the cleanliness standards in the kitchen would probably be far higher than elsewhere in the hotel
Secondly, one of the big issues in US drinking water seems to be lead and other contaminates from out of date and unsafe water pipes. I’m sure/ mainly hope this would be spotted by professional bottled water companies (who probably won’t be pulling from last mile local distribution anyways), but I wouldn’t have any confidence in a $50 filter at a Utah Residence Inn doing that.