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Helene Sula, an American tourist visiting Germany, said she could hardly forget being ridiculed by a waiter for ordering water instead of beer or wine like other diners.
She repeated her request for water, but the waiter refused. Eventually, they brought the water, but instead of the complimentary filtered water in a glass filled with ice, they gave her a one-liter bottle of sparkling water, along with a small glass and a 2 euro bill.
In Europe, many restaurants only serve bottled water in glass bottles and charge for it.
A few years later, when she and her husband moved to Germany, she had the opportunity to better understand the culture of using tap water in Europe. Whether hiking, cycling, or strolling, she and her husband always carried large water bottles or camelbaks (water bags). Meanwhile, their European friends often didn't drink water, opting instead for wine, which Helene found "unbelievable."
Despite having lived in Europe for several years, Helene was still perplexed when the issue was brought up again. She said, "Perhaps Europeans didn't experience the same water shortage as we did."
Rob Murgatroyd, an American living in Florence, also noticed a significant difference in water consumption between the US and Italy. In the US, people are accustomed to drinking water constantly, "as if it were their main job," but in Italy, seeing someone holding a water bottle is a rare sight.
Many tourists visiting Europe complain about having to pay for bottled water at restaurants and bars. "Bottled water isn't free at restaurants," Helene says. If it's free, it's usually just "a very small glass." However, many locals in Europe disagree. They argue that bottled water is still free at many restaurants, and customers only pay if it's bottled water.
Serving filtered water is quite rare in European restaurants.
To better understand tap water usage culture in Europe, CNN interviewed Stavros A. Kavouras, a professor of nutrition at Arizona State University. Kavouras, who manages the university's Hydration Lab, has conducted extensive research on hydration and human health.
With Greek ancestry and 20 years living in the United States, Kavouras has insightful perspectives on Europe. He explains that the use of tap water in European countries has many cultural differences.
In Germany, when you ask for water, you're usually served sparkling water. "This is normal," Kavouras said. In restaurants, plain water is rarely served because Germans often refuse it. Kavouras also said that paying a few extra euros for a one-liter glass bottle of water at dinner might surprise Americans, but for many Europeans, it's commonplace.
Regarding whether Europeans are more prone to dehydration than Americans, Kavouras suggests there are differences in diet. In the US, people are recommended to drink 2.7 liters of water per day for women and 3.7 liters for men, while in Europe, these figures are 2 and 2.5 liters respectively.
Europeans generally drink relatively little plain water.
When explaining the smaller size of water cups in Europe, Kavouras said that Americans are used to larger portions. This is not only a difference between the US and Europe, but also compared to many other places in the world. In the US, his colleagues often bring large water bottles to work, which he finds amusing, as if there were no water at the workplace.
However, Kavouras advises that people should maintain adequate hydration throughout the day, whether at the office or while strolling around European cities. "Water is a very important part of a healthy diet, especially in the summer."
If you're planning a trip to Europe this summer and worried about water shortages, expert Kavouras advises against paying too much attention to social media posts. Instead, you should do your research about your destination. If you don't want to use bottled water in restaurants, you can buy it at cheaper prices in stores or supermarkets.
In addition, tourists should bring a water bottle to fill with water from public taps. Many European cities have fountains where people can stop and drink. Hotels, cafes, and restaurants will also often refill bottles if you ask. Mr. Kavouras said that tap water in most European countries is safe to drink.
Water from free fountains in many European cities is perfectly safe to drink. Photo: AFP
Meanwhile, according to the European Commission, an executive body of the European Union, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has indicated that water intake in European countries is lower than recommended or guided levels.
In Europe, most countries consume less than 1,000 ml of water per day, with the exception of Austria, Germany, and Norway. The European Commission states that all national dietary guidelines in European countries provide recommendations on water and fluid intake, with most recommending between 1.5 and 2 liters of water per day.
In the US, average water intake is slightly higher; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2015 to 2018, adults drank an average of about 1.3 liters. The US daily water intake guidelines are also higher than in Europe, with men in the US recommended drinking about 3.7 liters per day, while women should drink about 2.7 liters.
