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Old May 03, 2010, 10:22 AM
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Naturefreak Naturefreak is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 5,146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shangrala View Post
Until about a decade, or so ago, here in the Bay Area, Northern California we used to get all our water from the Hetch Hetchy Water Plant (entirely fed by the Colorado/Sacramento River).
Water was becoming short in Southern Ca., so they diverted half our water to that area and compensated that percentage lost with water from the local recycling plants.
Since that change, I have noticed that things, such as wash cloths, kitchen sponges, etc "sour" when using the water. I've since had to change the (clean) kitchen wash cloths I use every other day because even when rinsed thoroughly after every use and hung to dry, they still smell like...eww, even in a couple day's time. Even worse for any kitchen sponges (even the new ones), used for washing dishes by hand, or simple counter wipe up. I have to wash and bleach those to kill the odor. It leaves that sour smell on my hands afterward...even after all the cleanup...gross. (Sometimes, same applies to how the laundry smells after a wash. I have to then rewash to kill the odor).

It was only recently that I noticed another difference in our water here. During this last weather chill spell we had (furnace had gone out..needed repair), so to kill the morning chill I boiled a large pot of water on the stove top for a bit of warm humidity. I noticed in the pot (stainless steel) had a floating, foaming muck to the surface of it...Ewww. At first notice, I wondered if perhaps there was a film of dish soap left inside the pot, which would explain the foaming film. So, I emptied pot, washed and rinsed WELL, refilled and set to boil again. Same results.

I don't trust the tap water in our area. It doesn't exactly taste bad, but from the lingering smell and the film it leaves, it doesn't exactly sit well with me drinking it, (even if we boiled it, though I know boiling sterilizes).

We drink through the filtered water on the fridge. And we keep the filters changed regularly, as I understand that drinking water through a filter system with a old filter can be even worse than drinking the bad water directly. Hard to say.

As far as bottled water. Sometimes we buy a bottle, or few, though not that often. Also, regarding the reuse of those plastic bottles, I understand that some, if not most, are not intended to be reused.
They have the recycle stamp on the underside of them (the triangle with arrow on end and a number in its center). The number indicates how many times it is intended to be used. If there is a "1" in the center, then it is intended to be used that one time, then disposed of for recycling. (Whatever number is inside of that triangle is the amount of times that quality of plastic can be reused). Apparently, if it is used more than the number indicated then the plastic can release some minute amount of toxic into the refilled water.
It is also advised to not leave bottled water in direct sunlight, or inside the car especially when hot out and the plastic can heat up.

Fact or Myth: You can pretty much tell the quality of the water in your home by how clear your ice cubes freeze.
(Makes me wonder..how many of us are going to pay attention to the clarity of our cubes now.....lmao).

Shangrala

Thanks Mary, very interesting post.
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Thanks for this!
Shangrala