Don't try to drink an arbitrary daily amount of liquid, such as eight glasses of water. Urine color is a good indicator of hydration—it should be light yellow. Other beverages, such as juice, milk and soda, are treated as water by the body—even if they contain caffeine.
It is fine to drink tap water—the US has some of the safest tap water in the world, and many bottled waters are simply filtered tap water.
If your home was built before 1986, have your water tested for lead contamination.
If your water comes from a well, have it tested for arsenic.
Use a filter if you find that your water contains contaminants or has a taste you dislike.
Bottled-water caution: Reusing plastic bottles that have not been sterilized can expose you to high bacteria levels. Wash bottles in hot, soapy water or run them through a dishwasher. Store unopened bottled water in a cool, dark place to prevent damage to the containers from heat and light.
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