How we are all being drugged

[salvador]

In most parts of the developed world chlorine is added to tap water, ostensibly to "kill bugs." What most people don't realise is that most groundwater contains methane molecules which react with the chlorine to produce chloroform.

No wonder most people appear to go about their lives half asleep.

http://www.epsaber.demon.co.uk/doc/mains.htm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultat...nt/pwrc-10.asp

[Mezurashi]

I remember when I was a kid one of the weekly tasks, which I hated, was to go downstairs and lug a big, heavy bag of water softening agent, it looked like rock salt, and dump it into the water softening bin thing we had installed. Otherwise the tap water had enough stuff in it that you could pick it up with a magnet (line paraphrased from John Varley).

But I don't know about the 'conspiracy' aspect, yet. Most of the problems with past water contamination had more to do with lack of care or knowledge and not a deliberate attempt to kill off or otherwise poison mass populations, except for the whole flouridation debate.

However (there's always one of these), recent and not-so-recent developments in non-chlorine based forms of water purification are providing a possible alternative and some of these are applicable on a large scale today. I'm running without reference on this one - maybe something is already emplaced somewhere.

And the third point is a question about the costs of current systems versus the newer ones, the relative costs of setting up water systems in developing countries and if there is a significant difference between using current methods and/or trying the new refinements. In developed cities the cost of replacement is going to be prohibitive no matter what, so we'll probably end up leaving it until it becomes absolutely necessary and, most likely, hugely more expensive than it would be today, or even tomorrow.

And I thank Whomever that I now live somewhere with good water quality, no more lugging twenty kilo bags of salt around...

[nrj]

Well, then it's good that northern Europe got the cleanest water in the world! Almost no chemicals, but still the cleanest! Or was it one of the cleanest? Well, any way, our wtaer is cleaner than most countries.

[Balder]

Yes we have clean water in scandinavia but we still put clorine and flour in it!

[nrj]

Yep, off course. It's not like it's self cleaning. But, we have almost no chlorine and flour in it. But, personally, I tend to be scared of the water in Denmark. It's better to drink booze.

[Balder]

yea NRJ i know how you swedes think! you only come to denmark for the cheap booze and expensive ladies!

[Mezurashi]

but aren't the Norwegians supposed to be the drunks and the Finnish supposedly the weird? Danes are just Danes (sorry, Denmark) and Sweden suffers from being the brunt of the stereotypes.

and if you have chorline and flouride in the water, it AIN'T clean, sorry. here in BC we have tap water with no chemicals, still naturally purified via land reservoirs (though this is already on its last legs - won't last beyond 5 more years) and I still use a Brita filter because of what gets through.

Home Condenser Kits are available or you can make them and rain catchers and Solar Stills are also becoming more popular. Easy stuff, all you need is sunshine, for the most part, or a can of Sterno fuel and within a few hours you can have mostly clean and pure water - if you don't make any mistakes and know what you're doing that is ...

[nrj]

but aren't the Norwegians supposed to be the drunks and the Finnish supposedly the weird? Danes are just Danes (sorry, Denmark) and Sweden suffers from being the brunt of the stereotypes.

Nope. The finns are supposed to be the ones who can't speak properly, the danes are the ones who smokes and beats every one up, the norwegians are the ones who are stupid and talk very funny and the swedes are the ones who drink, fuck, curse and occasionally move there lazy ass over to denmark, and use the last of their money to buy cheap booze and beer! But, strangely though, I am a swede, and I have been beaten up more times in Sweden then in Denmark... Maybe it's just faulty opinions.

[Mezurashi]

ok, thanks for clearing that up. my info on Scandanavia was over 10 years old (when my Swedish friend Madeleine llived here) and thus it might be biased.

and I LIED about the water where I live - we are Now Using Trace Amount of Chlorine (I just discovered to my chagrin).

I humbly submit myself for 'Swedish Poonishment' (blonde women only, please).

[dcookcan]

Well, I am happy to report that since moving from the city, we now live on well water. I use a water softener for general treatment and reverse osmosis for drinking water. I have never loved drinking water before having an RO tap.

[salvador]

Now, now people. I didn't expect a Scandinavian scrap! And over the subject of water! Come on, lads. You can't "a-fjord" to fight. Hahahahaha. Sometimes I amuse even myself.

I still use a Brita filter because of what gets through.

Quite right. Water filters can help. Remember though that they contain charcoal, a well-known carcinogen. Damn it! We aren't safe from anything are we? Soon the "experts" will be telling us that fresh air and exercise are bad for us. Now I come to think about it, exercise increases intake of oxygen and produces free-radicals, another cause of... No, I won't think about it.

I use a water softener for general treatment and reverse osmosis for drinking water. I have never loved drinking water before having an RO tap.

If you are ever in Britain, avoid Swindon and Hartlepool. They have very hard water and you can't make a decent cup of tea. There are other reasons for avoiding those towns, not least of which is that the good people of Hartlepool elected a man in a monkey suit to the position of mayor (true)! Water carry-on! Hahahahaha! There I go again, being funny.

There must be something in the water! Oh... (suddenly serious) bugger!

[nrj]

You can't "a-fjord" to fight.

Ok, something with the norse language amuses you? It's a cool language family, even if it has it's root in the ugly germanic language...

[stewey]

If there was no chemicals in the water, you would get sick from drinking it a lot more, unless they used non-chemicals ways to clean it, which are very expensive (think bottled water prices).

Why would they drug the water, when they drink the same water we do?

[Keeblergiant]

Chloroform in the water...wouldn't that make it easier to produce for people to produce LSD? I'm not too sure the government wants that...

[salvador]

Ok, something with the norse language amuses you? It's a cool language family, even if it has it's root in the ugly germanic language...

Sorry, nrj. It wasn't intended as a slight, merely a play on words. And perhaps you missed the sarcasm I directed at myself. As it happens, much of the dialect from my part of England is Norse in origin (from when your lot invaded us several hundred years ago -- we've forgiven you now).

[nrj]

Yep, and some of the english language got it's roots in the old norse:

kniv = knife
boll = ball (yes, the germans have the exact spelling, but the norse have the same pronaunciation)

To name some. And some of the grammar rules are adopted from us to. But... you can't "a-fjord" a fight? Wasn't that joke a little... dry?

[Mezurashi]

"He would would pun would pick a pocket."
- Dr. Stephen Maturin Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World