Bottled or Tap? - Page 4

fasternyou929 · 12-15-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

And how was it filtered? Just by the local utility?

You can buy portable filtration systems (for camping) that will take care of pretty much anything (except maybe pharmaceuticals, like I mentioned before). I don't know what Strontium is, but if it's just a metal, a filter should easily take care of that.

It's filtered by the bottling companies. Strontium is a heavy metal (more commonly known for its radioactive isotope) that is all but impossible to filter out of water. I don't remember exactly why, but a colleague of mine did a fair amount of research on it when it showed up on our drinking water labels.

The water from the tap is filtered even less. If the smell doesn't drive you away from drinking it, the taste certainly will. Locals don't drink tap water either.

Captain Morgan · 12-15-2009, 08:13 PM

the only time I drink bottled water is if I'm driving somewhere and really thirsty. otherwise, it's tap.

Homeslice · 12-15-2009, 08:13 PM

So they actually print Strontium on the label? Why not just keep it secret, lol.

Maybe it can't be filtered because the atoms or whatever don't clump together into large grains.

fasternyou929 · 12-15-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

So they actually print Strontium on the label? Why not just keep it secret, lol.

Maybe it can't be filtered because the atoms or whatever don't clump together into large grains.

I wish they had.

I think you might be right. And because it's heavy, it also can't be boiled off. The health affects are pretty serious, too.

It made for a nice scavenger hunt while we were there... "find the non-radioactive water!"

Hydrant · 12-15-2009, 10:45 PM

I wonder how many of you still have lead pipe water mains and pipes in your house?

There are some older neighborhoods that have lead water mains, and lead pipes inside their home.

At home I drink tap water, but when I take my lunch for work, I'll usually take a couple bottles of water if its not hot out. If it's hot I'll just bring a gallon cooler with tap water and ice.

G-Rex · 12-15-2009, 11:11 PM

This whole thread is full of people who have NO idea how drinking water is actually made.

Pharmaceuticals? Really? You realize that the processes we put raw water through in treatment eliminates that, right? I read sample reports taken from finished water going out to distribution on a regular basis, and these things aren't in there. Are they there in trace amounts that are so minute that they don't register in samplings tests? Sure, but guess what, arsenic, zinc, and uranium are in your water too, also in quantities so minute that are unmeasurable.

People already complain about the fluoride in water. Government makes us put it in there. People complain about the chlorine smell in some water. Guess what, chlorine is still a pretty damn good disinfectant in the treatment process.

Kaneman, the reason you get those notices are because the water plant was unable to meet the removal limit for a given part of the process one day out of three months more than likely. By the time you got that notice, the plant has produced good water for many weeks. Many things lead to those notices. Rainfall stirs up the silt and gunk in lakes and rivers, where raw water is taken from. The filters in the plant could be ready for replacement of their media. The way they know that needs done is when the water quality begins to go downhill. Hell, if the normal operator took a week off work and the guy running the plant in his absence wasn't as experienced with the plant itself, or liked to feed more lime, or chlorine, or take your pick of the chemicals we use in the water treatment process, then that will cause a bump in the numbers to cause you to get that notice.

If you took the limit level that the EPA requires we remove arsenic to, multiply that times 1000, you still would *maybe* have enough in your system to even quantify over a lifetime.

You don't really want to get me started on the EPA.

Chicken little, the sky isn't falling.

Kaneman · 12-15-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Rex

Kaneman, the reason you get those notices are because the water plant was unable to meet the removal limit for a given part of the process one day out of three months more than likely. By the time you got that notice, the plant has produced good water for many weeks. Many things lead to those notices. Rainfall stirs up the silt and gunk in lakes and rivers, where raw water is taken from. The filters in the plant could be ready for replacement of their media. The way they know that needs done is when the water quality begins to go downhill. Hell, if the normal operator took a week off work and the guy running the plant in his absence wasn't as experienced with the plant itself, or liked to feed more lime, or chlorine, or take your pick of the chemicals we use in the water treatment process, then that will cause a bump in the numbers to cause you to get that notice.

In my specific case it is because I live next to Lake Worth (Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, aka Carswell borders it) which is one of two bodies of water in Texas so polluted you can't eat any species of fish in any amount you catch there.

We've been getting these notices here for 7-8 years.

askmrjesus · 12-15-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Rex

This whole thread is full of people who have NO idea how drinking water is actually made.

Damn straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46lSs...eature=related

JC

Homeslice · 12-16-2009, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Rex

This whole thread is full of people who have NO idea how drinking water is actually made.

Pharmaceuticals? Really? You realize that the processes we put raw water through in treatment eliminates that, right?

Do you work for a utility? OK, cool, but are you a biochemist?

You say they "eliminate" pharmaceuticals? Uh, no.......This has been in the mainstream media for a long time......Are they miniscule trace amounts, yes....... but they're still present, proving that you guys didn't eliminate them. Hell, most utility companies don't even bother testing for them, because the Feds don't require them to and don't set any limits/standards.

Like I said, the amounts are miniscule, but until someone does some long-term research proving that there are no negative health effects over a person's lifespan, the jury is still out. People live for an average of 80 years.......That's a lot of water. And everything they EAT used water in its manufacturing, too.

Hydrant · 12-15-2009, 11:23 PM

Agreed with G-rex. After being around water treatment plants and the technology / processes that go into treatment its amazing what can be done.

Here is some info from the city of Cincinnati

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) uses the latest treatment techniques in its state-of-the-art facilities to remove harmful contaminants. Cincinnati has been recognized nationally for its excellent drinking water. GCWW has always met or exceeded all state and federal health standards for drinking water.

Most GCWW customers receive water from the Miller Plant on the Ohio River (diagram below). Granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment at Miller gives GCWW an edge in water quality management. GAC allows us to use substantially less chlorine in the treatment process. GCWW pioneered the use of GAC treatment and has one of the largest GAC facilities in the US.

GCWW also uses source water from its Bolton Wellfield on the Great Miami Aquifer (an aquifer is buried sand and gravel filled with water). It is located in the portion of the aquifer served by the Hamilton to New Baltimore Consortium, which has developed an award-winning source water protection program to protect the aquifer.

12-15-2009, 11:11 PM	#6
G-Rex Where to next? Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OK to the C Moto: TL1000R, Hayabusa, R1150RT Posts: 1,333	This whole thread is full of people who have NO idea how drinking water is actually made. Pharmaceuticals? Really? You realize that the processes we put raw water through in treatment eliminates that, right? I read sample reports taken from finished water going out to distribution on a regular basis, and these things aren't in there. Are they there in trace amounts that are so minute that they don't register in samplings tests? Sure, but guess what, arsenic, zinc, and uranium are in your water too, also in quantities so minute that are unmeasurable. People already complain about the fluoride in water. Government makes us put it in there. People complain about the chlorine smell in some water. Guess what, chlorine is still a pretty damn good disinfectant in the treatment process. Kaneman, the reason you get those notices are because the water plant was unable to meet the removal limit for a given part of the process one day out of three months more than likely. By the time you got that notice, the plant has produced good water for many weeks. Many things lead to those notices. Rainfall stirs up the silt and gunk in lakes and rivers, where raw water is taken from. The filters in the plant could be ready for replacement of their media. The way they know that needs done is when the water quality begins to go downhill. Hell, if the normal operator took a week off work and the guy running the plant in his absence wasn't as experienced with the plant itself, or liked to feed more lime, or chlorine, or take your pick of the chemicals we use in the water treatment process, then that will cause a bump in the numbers to cause you to get that notice. If you took the limit level that the EPA requires we remove arsenic to, multiply that times 1000, you still would maybe have enough in your system to even quantify over a lifetime. You don't really want to get me started on the EPA. Chicken little, the sky isn't falling. __________________

12-15-2009, 08:13 PM	#2
Captain Morgan Let's do another U-turn Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indiana Moto: 2009 V-Strom Posts: 3,816	the only time I drink bottled water is if I'm driving somewhere and really thirsty. otherwise, it's tap.

12-15-2009, 08:13 PM	#3
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	So they actually print Strontium on the label? Why not just keep it secret, lol. Maybe it can't be filtered because the atoms or whatever don't clump together into large grains.

12-15-2009, 10:45 PM	#5
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	I wonder how many of you still have lead pipe water mains and pipes in your house? There are some older neighborhoods that have lead water mains, and lead pipes inside their home. At home I drink tap water, but when I take my lunch for work, I'll usually take a couple bottles of water if its not hot out. If it's hot I'll just bring a gallon cooler with tap water and ice.

12-15-2009, 11:23 PM	#10
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	Agreed with G-rex. After being around water treatment plants and the technology / processes that go into treatment its amazing what can be done. Here is some info from the city of Cincinnati Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) uses the latest treatment techniques in its state-of-the-art facilities to remove harmful contaminants. Cincinnati has been recognized nationally for its excellent drinking water. GCWW has always met or exceeded all state and federal health standards for drinking water. Most GCWW customers receive water from the Miller Plant on the Ohio River (diagram below). Granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment at Miller gives GCWW an edge in water quality management. GAC allows us to use substantially less chlorine in the treatment process. GCWW pioneered the use of GAC treatment and has one of the largest GAC facilities in the US. GCWW also uses source water from its Bolton Wellfield on the Great Miami Aquifer (an aquifer is buried sand and gravel filled with water). It is located in the portion of the aquifer served by the Hamilton to New Baltimore Consortium, which has developed an award-winning source water protection program to protect the aquifer.