Water. tap, bottled or filtered?

Status
Not open for further replies.
lynda1

lynda1

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 10, 2012
Messages
407
Reaction score
2
Points
240
Location
Scotland
I have been reading quite a few threads on here about the kind of water everyone gives their piggies.

I live in a remote area and we have a spring which supplies all of the water to the house but what do you give your little darlings and why?

Is it just a regional thing ie. hard water areas etc?
 
I use tap water for my piggies (and my other small furries) I suppose the main thing is because it never occured to me not to. Recently I have read a thread on here about filtering water but it seemed unclear as to the true benefits due to not enough knowledge about the action of the filter and what was in the water to begin with. I live in an area that supposedly has soft water in any case so excess calcium shouldn't be too much of a problem. I've heard using bottled water is potentially worse though as it often has a high mineral content.
 
I live in an area where the water is classed as 'very hard'. Cassie piggy has bladder sludge issues and I have been recommended by both the vet and the CCT to give her bottled water. I use Deeside, which is the lowest calcium water on the market, apparently. It is a pain to get hold of (Waitrose), but it does make a huge difference to her.
 
Thanks for answering, I didnt know why people were using bottled water.

Can anyone using bottled water tell me the calcium level, I dont use bottled water at all so cant compare, our spring water has a calcium level of 38 if that makes sense.
 
I have always used tap water, but I have never really thought about it to be honest.
 
lynda1 said:
Thanks for answering, I didnt know why people were using bottled water.

Can anyone using bottled water tell me the calcium level, I dont use bottled water at all so cant compare, our spring water has a calcium level of 38 if that makes sense.
Click to expand...

From memory, the Deeside one (which is the lowest) has a calcium level of 4. Another low one is Isklar, but Deeside is lower.
 
Last edited:
Sorry, am back with definite figures now:

Deeside = 4 mg calcium per litre
Isklar = 6.4 mg calcium per litre
Volvic = 11.5 mg calcium per litre

Others are considerably higher. All bottled waters are not equal, although you could say that about tap water really, since regional factors play such a part in the mineral content.
 
That really is low, now I'm getting paranoid about their water. I thought that our water would be good for them because its like mineral water through the tap. Oh well maybe I'll worry about it once I've figured out what I'm doing with all the babies.
 
pelicano said:
I've tried changing my water filter every week before, but I still have to descale the kettle! :(
Click to expand...

Few questions
What filter do you have, how long does it take for your kettle to get scaly and what colour area are you in on the map?

We got a filter at work and the kettle was spotless.
 
Oh No! My country has disappeared, when did that happen, nobody told me it had gone, where did I disappear too, do I get to come back if I'm good?
 
piggyme234 said:
Few questions
What filter do you have, how long does it take for your kettle to get scaly and what colour area are you in on the map?

We got a filter at work and the kettle was spotless.
Click to expand...

We have 386 mg per litre of calcium here (I just looked it up!) I use a Brita Maxtra. Scale starts to build up within a week, even with the filter. I tend to change it every 2 weeks now, rather than weekly, since weekly didn't actually work anyway.
 
I use tap water, does anyone add vitamins to their water?
have seen vitamins to add to water but didnt no if this was was good?
 
Stephpig said:
I use tap water, does anyone add vitamins to their water?
have seen vitamins to add to water but didnt no if this was was good?
Click to expand...

The vitamins break down so quickly once they are in the water its hardly worth the money, with a good hard feed and a range of veggies you really dont think that you need it.
 
I just use tap water, because the water up here in Moray is generally much better quality, although if I was still living down south in Birmingham I would probably be inclined to use bottled water.
 
I am not sure if chlorine is a problem for any of you. Our water has a fair amount of chlorine in it. I filter my water and let it sit for 24 hours to get rid of the chlorine. I never even knew about calcium causing problems until I read all the articles on this forum. Thank you. Guinea pigs really rely on good gut flora and the chlorine can kill off the beneficial bacteria in their gut creating an imbalance.
 
I feel really bad to say this but as none of my piggies have bladder issues and I'm in Scotland with lovely soft water:
I just think well, if its good enough for me and the dog its good enough for you too lol.
 
hazeyg said:
I feel really bad to say this but as none of my piggies have bladder issues and I'm in Scotland with lovely soft water:
I just think well, if its good enough for me and the dog its good enough for you too lol.
Click to expand...

I think that we are really lucky up here, Id never thought about water before either and then you here all the stories on here. If piggies cant drink the water without it possibly causing bladder problems, no wonder the NHS is so busy. :{
 
hazeyg said:
I know we are really lucky...I love our water :)). I'm secretly very patriotic:red
Click to expand...

uk-scotland.gif


Its not such a secret with me. lol :))
 
He he he that made me giggle so much. ha ha.
Where abouts in Scotland are you from? We had a Scotlnad meet up yesterday, you should join us in the future :)
 
I've never thought about it, I just give them tap water

According to the map I live in a hard water area even though I have never had any issues with limescale in things.
 
I've never thought about it, I just give them tap water

According to the map I live in a hard water area even though I have never had any issues with limescale in things.
 
hazeyg said:
He he he that made me giggle so much. ha ha.
Where abouts in Scotland are you from? We had a Scotlnad meet up yesterday, you should join us in the future :)
Click to expand...

Hi there, I'm just north of glasgow, I saw that you were having a meet but I havent been too well and didnt know if I could come and if I did feel better then I work on saturdays. Maybe see you at the next one.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top