You don’t need to become a paranoid water inspector. Just follow these five easy rules:
1. Trust the seal. If the cap doesn’t crackle when you open it, don’t drink it. Air is a sign of tampering.
2. Use a portable filter. Devices like the LifeStraw or SteriPEN turn hotel tap water into a safe sip. They weigh less than a paperback.
3. When in doubt, order sparkling. The carbonation process often kills bugs. Plus, it feels fancier.
4. Learn the local word. In Spanish, “agua sin gas” means still, but “agua embotellada” (bottled) is safer. In Thai, say “nam plao khuat.”
5. Boil it if you’re camping. A rolling boil for one minute kills most nasties. It’s the original water filter.
And a bonus fun fact: Still water is the oldest beverage on Earth. It predates humans, dinosaurs, and even wine. Yet it remains the one drink that can either heal you—or send you running to the bathroom.
