Chlorine is added to our drinking water supplies as a vapour or a gas. Most consumers visualise chlorine being added to water supplies as a liquid, similar to a swimming pool. However this is not the case, chlorine is added as a gas to maximise how far it can travel down a water pipe, gases travelling further than liquids, thus saving councils and water authorities money on buying chlorine.

The benefits of chlorine being added to water are to combat Giardia, Cryptosporidium and ecoli bacteria. The drawbacks are smell, taste and odour problems and the growing link and concern that chlorine is known as a cancer causing agent.

References:
Department of Environment and Water Resources - Australian Government
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Health Effects of Chlorine in Drinking Water

Ammonia is also added to water supplies .It is also added as a vapour or gas. Because ammonia is lighter than chlorine gas, it piggybacks on the chlorine gas down the water pipes, mixing in with chlorine gas, better known as chloramine.

In the 1st World War, this was known as mustard gas, a deadly compound used to kill the enemy. And yes, we are drinking it.

The benefits of ammonia gas are that it inhibits the growth of biofilm and algae, the slime that can grow on the insides of drinking water pipes. The drawback is that it is once again linked as a cancer causing agent.

References:
Water Quality Association

Fluoride is also added to drinking water in most areas.

Favoured as an additive for strengthening and promoting healthy tooth development in minors, fluoride has also been linked to the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.

This additive is commonly confused by the public with chlorine, however both are totally different in character, performance and application. Fluoride easily represents the most difficult additive to eliminate from water.

References:
WHO Fluoride Monograph - Cooperative Research Center for Water Quality and Treatment
Fluoride in Drinking Water - World Health Organisation
The Fluoride Debate
Fluoride Action Network

Debunking a common myth about water treatment solutions
Silver Carbon - “the bacteria myth debunked”

In the days of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, cups lined heavily with pure silver were used to eliminate the onset of dysentery and diahoreh from drinking water. The theory behind this technology was encapsulated with the development of silver carbon filters.

The carbon eliminates chlorine whilst the silver eliminated ecoli bacteria.

However, no manufacturer will ever confirm this as a fact.

They usually market these with wording…inhibits bacteria….meaning something completely different to killing bacteria or ecoli. Reputable industry leaders no longer use this marketing ploy. The amount of silver required to effectively combat ecoli bacteria is far beyond the safety levels set out in the WHO guidelines for silver impregnation.

One is more likely to suffer silver poisoning using these types of systems.

References:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Water Facts

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines states that ideally, our drinking water should be clear, colourless, well aerated with no unpleasant taste or odour and contain no suspended matter, harmful chemical substances or pathogens.That’s in an ideal world

What we expect is a continuous and safe supply of drinking water at a reasonable flow and pressure to our kitchen tap.

Unlike third world countries , we have taken the safety of our drinking water for granted. However 1999 saw Sydney NSW reach crisis point with its residents boiling water for over a month.

Pathogens called Giardia and Cryptosporidium are now common words to those residents and now know of the health risks involved with these bugs. However prior to this outbreak we all took for granted the ongoing safety of our drinking water.

Various sections of the water industry including plumbers,water industry operators, wastewater operators, and conservation authorities became more water conscious and started looking at system breakdowns and ways to solve Australia’s ongoing water crisis.

Whilst many consumers complain about the taste, smell and odour of their drinking water at various times, without the regulatory authorities implementing World Health Organization safety standards, pathogens such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium would run rampant in our water supplies.

So, at the end of the day we need chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia to be added to our water supplies for safety reasons, we also need the flocculants to settle our water so no slime or dirt comes through, then its up to the consumer to remove them at the point of use ie your tap, should he or she so desire.

"Greywater and sewerage potentially contain pathogens that cause illnesses. Care does need to be taken with how it is used. With increasing recycling it is important we don't increase exposure to unsafe levels." Dr David Cunliffe, South Australian Department of Human Services ABC Online

Recycled Drinking Water

The drought has generated increased debate over the use of recycled water for drinking purposes. A referendum seeking the locals permission to recycle its water recently held in Toowoomba, Queensland’s second largest city was narrowly defeated. The Australian Academy of Sciences described the vote as one where the yuk factor prevailed.

The national guidelines for recycling water are clearly set out and the CSIRO has released an extensive and comprehensive research paper on consumer attitudes to the use of recycled water for drinking purposes.

Various discussion papers on the issue released by eminent groups such as the Department of Environment and Climate Change,the Department of Natural Resources and public opinion barometers such as the ABC have failed to ease consumer sentiment on the issue.

The most common risks associated with such a plan are recycling breakdowns, ie where the treatment plants breakdown allowing dangerous pathogens back into the water supply without warning. Scare mongering claiming the residues of drugs, hormones and pharmaceutical prescriptions will also find their way into the water supply are rife.

Whilst advanced processes do exist to cope with the rigorous demands such treatment requires, the monumental task will be the ongoing perfect performance of these systems to avoid potential breakdowns and pathogen outbreaks. Many European countries have implemented such plants successfully and Australia should be no different

For those looking for that safety cushion ,just in case, any of the Freshly Squeezed Water premium system will adequately cope in the unlikely event of a recycling meltdown allowing pathogens Giardia and or Cryptosporidium to bypass the system.

Check out our online product catalogue!

"Disease outbreaks from drinking water are almost invariably linked to changes in measurable water quality parameters or to the failure of treatment processes to cope with extreme weather events such as high rainfall and flooding. Water treatment processes generally function best under steady state conditions, and performance can seriously deteriorate when there are major fluctuations in quality or flow."

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

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