In article ,
"Jim Beaver" wrote:

For a long time, I had Sparkletts delivering bottled water to my house for
use in a Sparkletts-supplied dispenser. At $17 a month rental on the
dispenser, I figured I would save a lot of money in the long run by
canceling the rental and getting my own dispenser.

However, I've now bought three different dispensers -- two from Frys
Electronics, one from Sears -- and all of them put out very bad tasting
water, despite precise attention to pre-use cleaning and preparation as
outlined in the owner's manuals. It's a very strong plastic taste that is
not present in the water prior to being introduced into the dispenser. I
have been meticulous in the prep, yet the problem persists through three
different brands. (In each case, btw, when I returned the item, I learned
that I was not the first to complain about the problem.)

Can anyone recommend a water dispenser that absolutely doesn't have this
issue, or suggest what I might be doing wrong? (Despite the repeated
problem with different brands and my own general belief that the common
denominator -- in this case, me -- is often at the root of a problem, I'm
strongly unconvinced that I'm at fault here. But I'm willing to listen.)

Jim Beaver

Don't know what Sparklett's policy is, but Arrowhead will gladly sell
you either the unit you've been renting, or a new one. (Probably too
late now to buy the used one you had from them.)

New plastic "outgasses" toxins for quite a while. But maybe if you
bought a new one and let it sit out in the fresh air for two months,
most of the offensive smell/taste would be gone.