« December 2004 | Main | February 2005 »
January 31, 2005
MTBE Contamination Leaves Residents in a Quandry
According to the Baltimore Sun, MTBE contamination in Hammond, MD, has left some 50 homeowners with concerns as to who will pay for assuring them of clear, potable water.
In the late 1970's, with the removal of lead from gasoline, MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) was put added to allow gasoline to burn clean. While the EPA has no definitive data on the effect of MTBE in drinking water, it is known that high exposure has caused cancer in lab animals.
Many of the residents to this point have used filtration to remove the contamination from their tap water. The authorities are proposing connecting all the effected residents to the municipal water system.
The question now arises as to who will pay the $1669 for each resident to hook up to a new extension of the water main? The homeowners believe they should not be responsible for paying for clean water, when they did not cause the pollution in the first place.
I tend to agree with the homeowners. Even the municipal authorities there are considering ways to defray the hook up costs.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 07:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 28, 2005
Bomb Squad Discovers Water Filter
The Morning News of Rodgers, AR reports that a Rodgers Water Department worker, while reading water meters, discovered a suspicious object attached to a residential meter yesterday, and alerted the local police. The police summoned the Springdale, AR Bomb Police Department's Bomb Squad.
Upon investigation, what the Bomb Squad found was a water filter, similar to the one pictured above.
Rogers Police Sgt. Jerry Tyler said "The object was made of three-quarter-inch PVC pipe and was duck-taped to the meter. It looked like a pipe bomb."
I cannot figure out why the filter was attached to a water meter, unless to make a statement about the quality of the water, but I do understand why it could be mistaken for a bomb.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 03:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 27, 2005
Brita Introduces New Way to Rip Off Consumers
Brita has introduced AquaView, a new version for their existing line of faucet mount water filters. It allows the consumer to view, through an LCD screen, sediment as it is traped by the filter.
It removes chlorine, sediment, and improves the taste and odor of tap water. The Brita AquaView retails for $39.99 and has a 100 gallon capacity. The replacement filter retails for $24.99. As an average family of four uses 1,000 gallons of water a year for drinking and cooking, a year of replacement filters for AquaView cost $249.99.
The filter pictured about is a KDF based counter top water filter, which also removes chlorine, sediment, and improves the taste and odor of tap water, but it has a 5,000 gallon capacity, and thus lasts five years without any replacement filter. This filter retails for $39.95.
In five years, a consumer would pay $1,249.95 for replacement filters for the Bita AquaView. Truly a consumer rip off.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 07:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 26, 2005
Phoenix's Water Crisis Ended
According to a report in The Arizona Republic, the extreme shortage of clean water in the Phoenix area is at an end.
As of today, the sediment in the water should be all cleared from the pipeline, which was blamed on the extensive rainfall and storms that hit the state two weeks ago. Apparently, the muddy run offs raised the turbidity levels in the water to more than double the Federal guidelines.
Four of the five water treatment facilities which service the City, had to be shut down. This created a water shortage, and the public was told to boil their water.
Well, this should put the Water Department of Phoenix on notice. Fluke weather can repeat it itself. Let's hope they prepare there water treatment fa cilities so that this scary incident never happens again.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 25, 2005
San Diego Channel 10 News Misses the Point on Water Filter Story
In "Water Filters Purify Skin Or Money Down Drain?" San Diego (CA) Channel 10 News misses the point of its own story.
At the outset one would believe they got it right, when they relate that a woman told them that since using a shower filter to bathe, she no longer had dry skin.
Where they lose focus, however, is when they quote dermatologist Ranella Hirsch of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who said, "when it comes to your skin, you don't need a filter to get rid of impurities in your water."
The fact is that it is the chlorine, present in all municipal water systems for disinfection, which causes skin to be dry, not the impurities in the water.
A shower filter will remove the chlorine and thus make skin softer and hair more manageable.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 24, 2005
New Treatment Plant Improves Naples, FL Troubled Water
The Naples Daily News reports that the Orange Tree Utility Company, which services Collier County, has opened a new water treatment facility to eliminate trihalomethanes, or THMs, and haloacetic acids, or HAAs, which had been found to be between four and seven times the legal limit.
These chemicals are both byproducts of the chlorination process. The discovery led to enforcement action by the state Department of Environmental Protection and prompted an Orange Tree resident to file a class-action lawsuit against the utility.
The upgraded treatment plant does a much better job of filtering the water coming into the plant to remove natural organic matter that can create THMs and HAAs.
Since 2004, a new state law required that Florida water treatment facilities must test for the presence of THMs and HAAs.
All US water treatment facilities, as they all use chlorination, should adopt such a law.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 08:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 21, 2005
Internet Explorer has unreported vulnerabilty
I found out the hard way. It seems when ever I posted a blog here, someone somehow inserted links without me knowing. It turns out that very possibly I was the only one viewing these links that I could not eradicate.
My own copy of Microsoft Internet Explorer I discovered was the culprit. It seems that all the downloaded security updates from Microsoft, nor a regularly updated virus scan, nor a sophisticated firewall could prevent an unscrupulous person from invading my publishing efforts.
One of these culprits is revealed, as every time I would write "water filters", the link that appeared took you to Best Filters, Fayetteville, AR, a high priced competitor of my site.
Interesting as in my last blog I mentioned greedy water filter suppliers.
Please all users of Internet Explorer beware of this vulnerablity issue.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 20, 2005
Is water Kosher in New York City?
The New York Times is asking this question in a report filed by Joseph Berger.
Apparently, last Spring, rabbis in Brooklyn discovered that microcrustace were present in New Yok City water. The creature, a copepod, is found in water all over the world and is harmless.
As there is a biblical prohibition against eating shellfish, the 331,200 Orthodox Jews in the City are paying premium prices for water filters. Thus an entirely new standard is being set for what constitutes a kosher kitchen.
Yes, water filters can rid the water of these tiny creatures, but the situation should not be taken advantage of by greedy water filter suppliers, as has been reported.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 19, 2005
EPA: Water Contamination Worsens on Airplanes
As reported in the San Jose Mercury News, The EPA has reported that the contamination of the water aboard the nation's airplanes is much worse then previously had been reported.
In a second round of testing in the bathrooms and kitchens of 169 passenger airplanes, conducted in November and December 2004, the EPA found coliform in nearly one in five of the aircraft. Coliform is the key indicator for fecal contamination and germs that cause disease.
The contamination rate discovered, 17.2 percent,is higher than the 12.7 percent discovered in the tests three months ago, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Of course, the airline industry is disputing these findings.
I would suggest we all drink water from a bottle the next time we fly. I know I will.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 18, 2005
San Antonio Express-News: Canyon Water Authority to Add Ammonia to Drinking Water
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Canyon Regional Water Authority, which serves the Cibolo, TX area, plans to add small amounts of ammonia to solve the recent high levels of trihalomethanes ironically a byproduct of chlorine disinfection.
The high levels were detected in October, but because of an apparent mailing blunder at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the problem was brought to the city's attention only a few days ago. This did not sit well with Cibolo Mayor Charles Ruppert.
Water quality experts have said that the present state of the water does not pose an immediate health threat. Meanwhile, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District has brought in bottle water for the students, while crews are installing water filters in the school cafeteria.
Water filters, the prudent, cost effective way to solve contamination problems.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 04:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 17, 2005
Your City has a cash shortage? Just sell bottled water!
What a wonderful idea for shoring up the finances of a city budget! Just brand the water from your municipal water supply.
According to the Janesville,(WI) Gazette this suggestion was recently put before the Milton, WI City Council. Amazingly, the article goes on to say that some residents have voiced concerns about the taste of the water to be used.
John Berg, a water works operator, represented the Wisconsin Rural Water Association in presenting the idea. He went on to say that municipal water has been proven to be safer than bottled water.
As we have said many times most bottled water brands come from tap water, so yes, this is a potential for revenue any where well tested municipal water works exist.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 14, 2005
Business Week: Perchlorate: Out of the Hot Water?
Apparently the Envrironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) disagree as to how much perchorate, a primary ingredient of rocket fuel, found in the drinking water of 35 states, is healthy for human consumption.
According to a report in Business Week, NAS has just recommended that an amount 23 times the amount recommended by the EPA, has been announced. What this has done is to put on hold millions of dollars in costs to be borne by mostly defense industries which would have to be spent cleaning up water supplies.
While final determination has not been made as yet as to what exact level of perchrorate will be agreed is safe, all eyes now turn to the EPA to see what water level it will set.
Well, the EPA drops the ball again. What else is new?
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 09:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 13, 2005
Clean Up the World Provides Water Filters in Tsunami Areas
Austrailan Broacasting Corp., reports Clean Up The World is providing to areas hit by the Asian tsunami.
Clean Up the World Chariman Ian Kiernan, says, "A rotting sea of sewage and sludge has poisoned any wells or streams within its reach. In places like Asia, providing safe drinking water is a major priority for the international humanitarian effort."
The filters, developed by Memcor, contain microporous hollow fibre membranes, which are essentially drinking straws with a microporous wall structure. The end product is then disinfected with chlorine.
I applaud Clean Up the World's efforts.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 12, 2005
Study: Bottled Water No Safer Than Tap Water
ABC News, reporting on a study commissioned by the Switzerland-based World Wildlife Fund International says, that bottled water may be no safer than tap water, because of the absence of standards regulating bottled water.
There are far more regulations covering tap water in the US and Europe as compared to the bottled water industry.
The report also notes that the $22-billion-a-year bottled water industry uses 1.5 million tons of plastic annually to package water. The manufacture and disposal of plastic causes toxic chemicals to be released into the environment.
Furthermore, the group worries about release of carbon dioxide, a major threat to the ozone, from the transportation of bottled water.
This certainly is no news to me, or any of the visitors to this site.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 04:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 11, 2005
Diseases caused by water transcend tsunami disaster
Jack W. Hoffbuhr makes a very good point in his article
"Tapped Out, The tragedy and value of water", as published in the Houston Chronicle.
He says here in the US we take for granted that our tap water will be potable, even after a natural disaster, which it is. This is not so in the nations affected by the tsunami. The poor sanitation problems there only portend more sickness and death.
Hoffbuhr does give credit to organizations such as Water for People and Water Aid, who have been making efforts to improve this situation.
I truly hope that our watersecretsblog.com helps us all take potable water less for granted.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 05:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 10, 2005
Nestle Waters to Build Bottling Plant at Old Mill Site
"Nestle Waters North America Announces the Future Site of the Multi-Million Dollar Water Bottling Facility in McCloud", as published by the business wire from McCloud, CA, and found on Bottled Water Web, an industry support website, praises this announcement.
They are proud of the economic impact of using the old Cal Cedar lumber mill site, closed in 2001, for the new bottling plant for Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water Company, division of Nestle Waters, and speak of the 300 jobs that will be created.
The question arises, however, just where will the "spring mountain water" they will be bottling there come from? Seems to me, from under an old industrial site!
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 07, 2005
Scottish Water faces £1m bill for upgrade
Edinburgh, Scottland, Criss Mooney of the Evening News reports that the cost of getting rid of discolored drinking water in the Capital is set to cost up to £1 million.
"Scottish Water confessed it was failing to meet the required standards on water color and was now looking at ways to upgrade its treatment plants in the city to eradicate the problem."
Apparently while the water in Edinburgh is safe and potable, it has a yellow tinge to it that has the residents of the City a bit upset, to say the least.
Our KDF based maintenance free water filters would clear up that yellow color for any consumer who hooked it up, and for a lot less than one millon pounds sterling.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 08:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 04, 2005
Pakistan National Assembly Calls Water Resource Problems the Nation's Major Issue
Pakistan's Council of Research in the Water Resources (PCRWR) http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=88260 Chairman said that water resources is the nation's major issue and that all out efforts are crucial for Pakistan's health and economic well-being since water has a direct bearing on all socio-economics sectors.
He noted that the Council's random tests of bottled water available in the market revealed that the most of the brands have bacterial and other contamination. He also gave details of the Council's production of arsenic removing kits and low cost filters which have proved helpful in reducing the hazards of arsenic contamination in some districts of the country.
Related posts about bottled water and arsenic filters:
http://waterfilters-r-us.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/52
http://waterfilters-r-us.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/60
http://waterfilters-r-us.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/73
http://waterfilters-r-us.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/75
-------
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 04:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2005
Environmental Health Issues: Cancer & Chlorine
We have referenced this most imformative article, "Environmental Health Issues: Cancer & Chlorine" before. That blog was dated December 17, 2004, titled "Very Scary".
The article goes on to say "If your drinking water is chlorinated, don't drink it You can purchase very effective filters which will remove 99% of the THM’s or purchase proper bottled spring water. Just this simple safeguard may save thousands from heart disease and cancer - the two major degenerative killers in the United States."
We have those very effective filters on this site, such as our five year maintenance free model 2400, very inexpensive too.
--------
Posted by Stephen Betheil at 06:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack