My wife was a food buyer for an industrial cafeteria several years ago. She found out that the major cost in selling soft drinks to customers is the cup, cover, and straw. The small amount of soda and syrup mixed with the water in the drink was the least cost. If you realize that when you get a drink at a fast food place you're essentially buying the cup, cover, and straw you can see why the charge for water is a dollar. Don't like it? Bring your own water from home....