Water
If Costa Rica can be singled out for its three best things; I would say that it's first, for its democracy; second, for its environment; and third, for its potable water. It's the only Latin American country where most of its population (95%) has access to potable water furnished by the government at a very low price. Although ten brands of bottled drinking water are sold in supermarkets and elsewhere throughout the country, to consume it became at first almost a status symbol among Costa Ricans- a sort of showing-off more than anything else. In time, however, its use has become very popular and persons, who don't trust the quality of the local water for drinking, should probably continue to buy it.
Tap water is generally safe to drink in most towns and villages and I never buy bottled water unless I'm going on a trip to a far-out beach or mountain destination. (Remark by Jörn Malek: I only drink bottled water even in my house, to be on the safe side). Strange as it may seem, sometimes it's cheaper to buy a bottled soft drink than bottled water. Nearing the end of the dry season water is occasionally rationed during several hours of the day in metropolitan San José and its outlying districts. So it's a good idea to save some for those occasions or have an aerial water tank for storage or an underground one with an electric pump in your home to avoid this inconvenience. Usually, however, the Institute that administers the water supply will run ads in the main newspapers or on the radio informing when and at what hours the water will be turned off.
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