EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WATER

How did something so simple get so complicated? There are a great many things to wonder about water these days: What exactly is in the stuff coming out of the tap, and is it OK to drink? Are those bottles of oxygenated and alkalinized H₂O adding anything to our lives besides more plastic? And let's settle this once and for all: Do you really need to chug half a gallon each day? Let's spill the facts.

- MERYL DAVIDS LANDAU

OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS BARELY GAVE A THOUGHT TO WATER they would just fill a glass and drink it down on a hot day. Today we're practically obsessed with the stuff, and the fancier, the better. Forget about tap water: The average American guzzles 47 gallons of bottled water a year, nearly triple the amount of two decades ago. Manufacturers add flavors and vitamins and even change up water's chemical properties, proclaiming their versions to be healthier. Reusable water bottles are increasingly enormous, and we are encouraged to check our pee to make sure it's as pale as possible. The thing is, while some of these trends have gone way overboard, water is still the most important thing we consume, and research tells us that some Americans would do well to up their intake, especially in place of sugary drinks. Read on to learn what this fundamental fluid truly does, how to tell whether your water is clean, and why some water fads are all wet.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WATER?

For something that's literally clear, there are a lot of misconceptions.

WHICH OF THESE ARE TRUE? YOU NEED TO DRINK EIGHT GLASSES A DAY.