This might be stupid but...what the hell is still water?

Here's the scoop:

When they ask "still or sparkling?" they are trying to upsell you bottled water that isn't free. Just say "tap water" or "regular water is fine" and they'll give you that - free! I definitely drink the tap water, everywhere I go over here. If there's a problem with water, somewhere, which does happen - they will NOT serve it to anyone!

Still - regular water
Sparkling - like Evian

It goes bad because "Health and Safety" has gone amok! I've been known to (gasp!) drink water well after 3 days in the fridge...

Susan
Expat in Waterville

Still is in a bottle (or from the funny multi flavour push button bar tap) and not bubbly.

Sparkling is exactly the same with CO2 added to make bubbles.

Well I had to conclude that still water is just regular water (I knew what sparkling is, never cared for carbonated drinks save for a few beers every now and again). We just don't call it still in the states. I was so thrown off by the "drink in 3 days" label.

I'm gonna save my bottle and just fill up with tap from now on though.

It's regular - not carbonated (like tap) or carbonated (sort of like club soda).
Many restaurants will ask, still or gas; see above.
Not complicated.

"Still water" means no gas/carbonation, but it could be up priced bottled mineral water without gas. Or it could be bottle filtered water at a more modest up price.

"Tap water" is regular potable water. The American CDC considers Irish food and water standards similar to that of the US. This would mean that "tap water" should be safe to drink.

And...

...it runs deep.

[/rimshot]

Reminds me of the only tourist German I remember: water there is Mit Gas or No Mit gas

Doric - you got that half right. Mit gas is with gas. Ohne gas is without gas. “No mit gas” makes no mit sense.

Except . . . Evian is still water.