How much water should you be drinking a day? 

For quite some time, there has been a popular consensus that the average adult should be drinking eight glasses a day.

Recently, however, scientists have begun to challenge this assumption; recently, the University of Aberdeen has concluded that two litres of water is too much and most people only need 1.5 to 1.8 litres per day.

Resolve Fitness co-owner Eoin Cashen said it depends entirely on what kind of lifestyle you lead.

“It’s like asking, ‘How long is a piece of string?’” he told reporter Henry McKean for Moncrieff.

“It varies with the individual; if someone is working out a lot, their water intake is going to be quite higher.”

Mr Cashen said staying hydrated “helps prevent injury” when exercising but feels eight glasses is excessive for many people.

“It’s one of those old wives tales,” he said.

“I mean there’s an element of truth in it - but it’s one of those things that we were told as kids.”

Water from the tap.

Personally, he likes to drink sparkling water and usually has one to hand for when he feels parched.

“It’s just a preference for me,” he said.

“I just like the sparkling water, I just drink the small bottles.

“For me, I just find it happier to have it to hand, rather than going looking for water.

“I would drink five or six of those 500ml bottles per day.”

'My skin looks better when I drink a lot'

But what about people who do not work in sport? Would an ordinary person even want to drink the equivalent of eight glasses a day?

Out on the streets of Dublin, Henry encountered an American called Erinn who carries a litre water bottle wherever she goes.

“I wear it like a purse and it’s just kind of an attachment to myself,” she said.

“I drink 2 of these big bottles.” How much water do you drink per day? @tomhappens for @SeanMoncrieff @NewstalkFM from 2pm. pic.twitter.com/bGUQR08EQ9

— Henry McKean (@HenryMcKean) August 10, 2023

Erinn said she likes water because of the health benefits - something she feels is very much in keeping with the California lifestyle she grew up in.

“Being from California, our religion is kind of goofy health,” she said.

“Honestly, for me, it’s vanity because my skin looks better when I drink a lot of water.”

Overall, she drinks about two litres of water a day and describes it as the most “consistent healthy thing that I do”.

Main image: Woman drinking water.