.
Coffee and tea are diuretics; they require additional clear water to flush from the body.
A few cups of tea or coffee a day without a compensating increase in clear water results in a net loss of hydration... as indicated by rancid dry breath, dry gums, splitting cuticles, and facial wrinkles.
The phrase 'a couple quarts low' comes to mind.
.
An oft-repeated segment of the Rule Of Three (three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food...):
"...men need about 3.7 liters (~1 gallon) of fluids a day...14 one-gallon jugs every 2 weeks...However much of that you swap out for tea or selzer will just be more expensive..."
.
Fussing around the farm at a relaxed pace in cool weather, I can go through a quart or more each hour.
Rushing in hot weather, make that a half-gallon every hour... and then some.
.
Part of the problem with 'one-size-fits-all' prescriptions is my issue with modern medicine in the first place:
* each of us is unique.
No standardized solution can work for every body.
It can come close, but an individual tailored recipe is best.
.
b)
Let's look at the Rule Of Three for a sec.
.
Without a recognizable source of breathable air readily at-hand, I tend to go off-task.
.
Working or running without fluid replenishment, I tend to get woozy and off-task sometime in the first couple hours.
.
My snacks are essential, I carry a complete pantry in any vehicle I occupy.
Missing a couple meals tends to get me quite grouchy, the job ignored.
Three weeks without calories, and I could easily imagine stewing a redwood picnic-table for the tasty stains.
.
.
And 'yes', we use those one-gallon Crystal jugs for RO from the coin dispenser inside the grocery store.
We harbor some distrust of unsupervised dispensers outside in the weather and traffic.
.
With a new Crystal-style jug, their water goes in the dog bowl or is restricted to worshing.
Filled with fresh RO, that is fine for drinks.
.
To reduce contamination, we fill the gallons at the machine, then transfer to quart-size glass wine-bottles for mouth contact.
We clean our jugs and bottles with a 'bottle-brush' from a restaurant-supply.
I am comfortable with chlorine to smack those lurking cooties, but strongly avoid injesting the stuff.
I have no way to prove it, but I think a chemical designed to kill bacteria might/could be harmful to my cherished gut biome.
Your call.
.
Aptos, California (south of the coast resort of Santa Cruz).
A couple decades ago, there was a one-woman water shop in a strip-mall.
The line was set-up to flush your jug and cap with peroxide, a rinse station, then a half-dozen RO spigots.
I hope it is still there, I believe she was performing a great community service.
