Fresh water. What is it? Aesthetically, it is pleasing, dazzling. One of the most beautiful things on the earth. IF it is clean. But what if, what appears clean, is a mirage? What if it has been made so, chemically, and the real make up of 'H2O' is nothing but a cocktail of chemicals that we down every day in the vain hope it will hydrate and even heal? The most interesting aspect of researching Australian sites and documents for this article was the fact that most research has been taken down or the researcher is directed to a 'Page Not Found'. This speaks volumes of our government and health authorities, don't you think?
While this article affects everyone globally, the purpose is to explain to the Australian consumer just what you are drinking. It is of course up to you whether you want to poison yourself and then plead victim at a later date. The facts were found purely by chance while researching another matter. But it warrants an article all of its own. Tap water gives a whole new meaning to the term self medicating.
We all hear of the mythology of secret fountains of pristine spring water. Yet you'd have your head in the sand to not have heard of the analyses of so-called spring water. Some would say it is cleaner than tap water. In-house 'research' by companies such as Nestle would have the consumer believing the hype. And ever-faithful Google will by default have such research at the top of the page. Dig a little deeper and we hit the real water table. American independent research into contents of bottled (supposed spring) water finds the following (remember, water is essentially H2O with minerals):
Caffeine
Arsenic
Radioactive isotopes
Fertiliser
Solvents
Propellants
Plastics
Lead
Mercury
So, the average reader will say, "Oh, well, just a little rubbish in the water. That's natural, in small amounts."
It's NOT.
100 years ago this would not be normal. Each of the above come with their own accumulative properties, meaning they build up. Each of the above come with side effects, including liver damage, cancer and fertility issues. And this is just the beginning. And is the same the world over.
Ah tap water, let's have a look at it, shall we? Tap water is the 'free' water offered in most first world nations and many third world nations. Most believe this water comes from a magical fresh spring somewhere and just appears in our taps via some brilliant connection. The truth is, much is caught in run-off and stored in large catchment areas waiting to be cleaned (ie treated). This run-off comes from surrounding areas (sprayed farmlands) and rivers (which are fed by factories and various run-off sources in surrounding areas).
100 years ago when pipelines fed water which came from springs and clean water resources, back in the days when mass farming and factories did not feed waste water into our drinking water supply, things were different. But we are still drinking from the same sources today, albeit with many added bonuses. Like fossil fuel, water takes a long time to reach its perfect state. And like fossil fuel, today's tap water is toxic.
When 'Treatment' is More Manipulation Than Therapeutic
So what are the stages of water treatment? A chemistry student would have a ball here. And rightfully so, if we were not considering that the end product is for consumption. Remember, this is your drinking water, if you choose to source yours from a tap.
(Thanks to Hunter Water for the facts):
Coagulation/Flocculation: Liquid aluminium sulfate (alum) and/or polymer is added to untreated (raw) water. This causes the tiny particles of dirt in the water to stick together, which is easier to remove by settling or filtration.
Sedimentation: As the water and particles progress through the treatment process, they move into sedimentation basins where the water moves slowly, causing the heavy particles to settle to the bottom (sludge), and piped to drying lagoons. This step is optional and does not happen at every water treatment plant.
Filtration: Water flows through a filter made of layers of sand and gravel, and in some cases, crushed anthracite (carbon).
Disinfection: Water is disinfected with chlorine before it enters the distribution system to ensure that any disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are destroyed.
Fluoridation: Fluoride is added at this stage.
pH Correction: Lime is added.
Forget that at this stage, three listed poisons have already been used to purify the water. The side effects list for exposure and accumulatory effects result not just in brain drain but a plethora of acute, chronic and even terminal health conditions - the summary alone could fill a book (references below). Forget that health experts and government alike poke fun at any natural health expert's attempts to advise on pH balance. Yet it is important enough to alter in water? Why? Well, adding hydrochloric acid to water may have something to do with it. Depending on region, the amount of pH correction differs, resulting in an exponential difference in pH.
At this point, we could be forgiven for believing the hype, that this is all that happens to water. But it's not. Somewhere along the line, we have the addition of (thanks to Toxic Tap Brisbane):
Aluminium chlorohydrates AlCl(OH)5 2005 Coagulation
Aluminium sulfate (alum) Al2(SO4)3 1983 Coagulation
Ammonia NH3 aq 1983 Generation of chloramines for disinfection
Ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4 1983 Generation of chloramines for disinfection
Calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime) Ca(OH)2 1983 pH correction, Softening,Corrosion control
Calcium hypochlorite Ca(OCl)2 1983 Disinfection/oxidation
Calcium oxide (quick lime) CaO 1983 Coagulation aidpH correction,Softening,Corrosion control,
Carbon, powdered activated/granulated activated (PAC/GAC)C 1983 Adsorption
Chlorine Cl2 1983 Disinfection/oxidation
Chlorine dioxide ClO2 2005 Disinfection/oxidation
Copper sulfate CuSO4 1983 Algicide
Ferric chloride FeCl3 1983 Coagulation
Ferric sulfates Fe2(SO4)3 1983 Coagulation
Hydrochloric acid HCl 2005 pH correction
Hydrofluorosilicic acid(fluorosilicic acid) H2SiF6 1983 Fluoridation
Hydrogen peroxide H2O2 1983 Disinfection,Oxidation
Hydroxylated ferric sulfate 2005 Coagulation
Ozone O3 2005 Disinfection/oxidation
Polyacrylamides (C3H5NO)n 1977 Coagulation aid,Flocculation aid,Filter aid
Polyaluminium chlorides Aln(OH)mCL(3n-m) 1979 Coagulation
Poly aluminium silica sulfates Na12(AlO2),(SiO2)12.xH2O,2005 Coagulation
Polydiallyldimethylammonium,chlorides (polyDADMACs) 1982 Coagulation and coagulation aid
Potassium permanganate KMnO4 1983 Disinfection/oxidation
Sodium aluminates NaAlO2 1983 Coagulation
Sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 1938 pH correction,Softening,Corrosion control
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) Na2CO3 1983 pH correction,Softening,Corrosion control
Sodium fluoride NaF 1983 Fluoridation
Sodium fluorosilicate Na2SiF6 1983 Fluoridation
Sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3)x 1983 Corrosion control
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) NaOH 1983 pH correction,Softening,Corrosion control
Sodium hypochlorite NaClO 1983 Disinfection/oxidation
Sodium silicate Na2SiO3 1983 Coagulation aid,Flocculation aid,pH correction,Corrosion control
Sodium tripolyphosphate Na5P3O10 2005 Corrosion control,Softening
Sulfuric acid H2SO4 1983 pH correction
Zinc orthophosphate Zn3(PO4)2 1987 Corrosion control
When we consider that in nature, pure water is filtered via many stages of cleaning and remineralisation, even energisation, via gravity and the leeching of many layers of naturally occurring substances. This is not a science lesson and I have tried to keep it from being such; but even a primary school student can see the difference here. Yes, these stages happen in nature but VERY different to the man-made options.
Can they be improved on? Yes. In fact there are many such water purification machines and options available. Many are financially out of reach of the average household. Interestingly, the savings made if governments were to fund real water cleaning equipment for each household would be evident in a short time. Our soils, our gardens, our bathrooms and our own health would experience such vast improvements currently only seen in areas where people are blessed to bathe and consume good water.
And what medications and pharmaceutical poisons are you consuming without prescription? Through independent research, we come to medications and personal care ingredients found in TAP water (not the full list):
Acetominophen (tylenol/paracetamol)
Glyphosate
Asbestos
Codeine
Dimethicone
Herbicides (dozens of forms)
Urethanes
Toluene
Uranium
Vinyl
Benzene
Carbolic acid
Cyanide
DDT (banned but still leeching)
Chloroform
Styrene
Industrial solvents
Urea
Phthalates
Cadmium
Chloral hydrate (hypnotic)
Phenols
Diazepam
Chemotherapy drugs
Zantac
Oestrogen (synthetic)
Naproxen
Nicotine
Ibuprofen
Antibiotics - full spectrum cocktail
Aspirin
Bromine (extremely toxic when combined with aluminium)
Anticonvulsants such as Dilantin
Carbolic acid
Organophosphates - dozens of forms
Formaldehyde (11mg average consumption daily thanks for food and water containing this embalming chemical; our govt does not see it as important to even try to remove it)
Mood stabilisers
Sex hormones
Statin drugs
Radio Isotopes
Radio nuclides
Radium 226/8
Radon 222 ('significant' in rural areas but yet to be dealt with)
Arsenic
Malathion (banned but still leeching)
Cadmium
Naphthalene
Nitrates/nitrites
Hydrocarbons/fluorcarbons
Lead
Mercury
Human faeces (treated sewage)
Pesticides including dieldrin also once deemed safe (old products and run-off) - dozens of forms
Ametryn (passed off as safe, 'like glyphosate') - just one of the Ag chemicals now found to be toxic and being sold off to 3rd world nations as 'safe'
Amitraz (linked to aggression in animals and humans)
Kudos to those responsible, for giving us an end result that is relatively clear. With this cocktail it is a wonder. What is the answer? We are now controlled by methods that worked in the past. Catchment areas which were once pristine and served a much smaller population. Today, especially in tropical areas during wet season, trillions of megalitres are flushed out of rivers into the sea (destroyed by mining dumps - as pure water catchments are blocked at every effort), to float upon the salt water and evaporate when the conditions were right. This water should & must be saved & contained. Every household & community dwelling should, by law, have a water catchment system. Every business. Every company. Sadly, thanks to systematic poisoning of our air, water and soil, every building should have a safe filter. Not a chemical one.
All one has to do is put regular tap water through a water distiller. My first distiller was purchased for both medicine preparation and household consumption. Straight from the tap. Crystal clear when held up to light. The distiller, a 4 litre unit, was used twice a day, 7 days a week. The machine was not cheap, but it was very effective. The first use, I was horrified to see the amount of sediment in the pot, left behind after distillation was complete. I wiped it out each evening & had to regularly use descaler to clean it. The sediment went from an off-white (no doubt due to the high level of lime in our water in the region) to dark brown, like burnt pan scrapings. It smelled. Bad. Kind of like a chemistry laboratory during experiments. Fine, but this was drinking water. After a day's use, I wiped out the sediment to assess it. For just 8 litres of water, I salvaged 30mls of filthy, foul smelling sediment. We drink this. If we are to drink 2 - 3 litres of water a day for health purposes, per person, that is at least 7mls of toxic chemicals ingested. Daily. Not a lot you think? Imagine what goes into a drug overdose or even a shot - milligrams or even micrograms.
We also need to consider that bees, livestock and other animals drink plain tap water, even if we filter it. Food and drink - even medication manufacturers use tap water to manufacture any liquids. We no longer have a clue what we are drinking. The best you can do is buy a good water filter. Not just a jug but a 7 stage filter at the very least. Other options are distillers and reverse osmosis machines. There are some amazing machines out there but are often priced out of reach of most households. Old fashioned water conditioners are good for households, even better if you can afford a house filter.
We are drinking and washing in this pretty poison. And it is perfectly fine with our government and medical authorities. If you, a loved one, or your animals are sick and there is no 'cause' you may want to look at your water. Please consider it anyway.
Assessment of Australian water. (Acceptable levels of compounds and chemicals not removed by the stages above.)
References:
