he music is pumping, the heat is up, lights are flickering, and bodies are moving.

The room is crowded, the dancers are packed in, sweat is dripping from hair, face and clothes. You go to the bar to ask for water.

The answer you get is not, "Here you go." Instead the average bartender in the city will reply "five dollars," and hand you a bottle. In New York’s dance clubs, bottled water can cost as much as $12 or as little as $2. The average price is $4 to $5.

"Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy beer – and it definitely causes problems," says Leslie, 19, from Pittsburgh, who like the other club-goers in this article, asked not to be identified by their last name.

he problem is that water – liquid – is critical for anyone dancing through the night. It is especially critical for those doing the popular club drug Ecstasy. The drug elevates users’ body temperature while suppressing their need for thirst – when dancing all night they risk dehydration.

Around the world more than 100 people have died after taking Ecstasy, according to DanceSafe, a harm eduction organization based in San Francisco. Dehydration plays a part, says Herbert Kleber, a psychologist and director of the division on substance abuse at Columbia University.

Establishing the cause of death can be difficult. It can be the drug itself, "exercising vigorously in a warm club" or "not drinking enough while dancing vigorously." In all cases, water helps.

hen asking club-goers about their water intake, many say they drink less, try to wait until they leave the club – or try to sneak in water to save money.

"They [club owners] know people are doing ‘E’ [Ecstasy] – and they need to be responsible," says Michael, 24, a regular club-goer and Ecstasy user from New York. "Basic water is four to five dollars – I think that is irresponsible."

Paul Hale, coordinator for DanceSafe in New York, is more understanding of the clubs’ policies. "Nobody’s drinking alcohol," he says. Therefore, clubs must make their profit on the cover charge and bottled water sales, he explains.

Sometimes water is more expensive than orange juice and Gatorade, says Hale. "They [club owners] just know people are whacked out, when they go to the bar – they just ask for water."

Hale insists drug users should have common sense. "If you want to roll, and you don’t want to pay for water – don’t go to a club," he says.

Dr. Kleber disagreed. "Show me a kid who would rather use five dollars on water than on drugs," he says.

Michael, 24, taking a sip of water during a hard, long night on the dance floor.

PHOTOS: Sophie Hayward
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