Do you drink Austin's water? (sale, garden, gas)

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by readymade

So funny, I'm trying to figure out what to do about water as well. We don't want to drink out of the tap because of the feces, anti-depressents, etc..

And we don't want to drink out of plastic because plastic raises estrogen levels and can cause birth defects.

We bought a PUR water filter thing and it doesn't fit on our tap AND apparently they don't make an adapter for it (went to about 5 stores looking for one). We can't afford an under-the-sink water filter (also, neither of us are handy and I don't think we'd know how to install it. plus, we're renting).

So... what? What do we do?

You can buy a water pitcher that has a filter built into the top of it from Walgreen's, it allows you to filter your drinking water one pitcher at a time, as you need it.

Clearly Better Drinking Water Pitcher Filter | Walgreens | Walgreens (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=302577&navAction=jump&navCount=0 &nug=VPD&skuid=sku2460142&id=prod2460705 - broken link)

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

The Austin water system was one of the hanful (3 or 4?) in the country that did not show any detectable traces of pharmaceuticals (although they only tested for a limited set of 100 something known items). Part of the reason for that is probably the lack of significant development WNW of Austin, where our water supply really originates.

^^ This makes a lot of sense. There wasn't really any heavy industry or manufacturing here in Austin, and even less to the NW (where the highland lakes feed out water supply). Thus, other than our own current additives and runoff, our water supply should be incredibly pollution-free. Especially compared to east coast cities.

I drink the tap water, I think it tastes far superior to Dallas water, and from what I remember Houston as well. SA's water (from the aquifer) must be pretty good too, though harder.

A question related along the lines of the plastic bottles... what about aluminum cans? Are they safe? Cause I've become totally addicted to that fizzy water in cans (La Croix, or HEB has a knockoff brand)...

[liloo]

I used to, but I would definitely put some kind of filter on the tap. I know they had changed a chemical in the water supply from chlorine to something else..chloramine? This makes the water flammable. I've tested this in different spots in Austin and it's not everywhere, but in one apt. complex I could actually take a lighter to my tap water stream and it would catch fire. Creepy right!? Like I said, not everywhere and in general the water tastes ok, but I would probably get a Brita or some type of filter.

[Trainwreck20]

Flammable water? I kind of doubt that has anything to do with the city supply. Anything added to the water is at such minute amounts that you would NEVER reach a flammable level. I suppse if they had a gasoline leak directly into their water pipes or something....

[jobert]

I'm calling BS on that one.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by liloo

i used to, but i would definitely put some kind of filter on the tap. I know they had changed a chemical in the water supply from chlorine to something else..chloramine? This makes the water flammable. I've tested this in different spots in austin and it's not everywhere, but in one apt. Complex i could actually take a lighter to my tap water stream and it would catch fire. Creepy right!? Like i said, not everywhere and in general the water tastes ok, but i would probably get a brita or some type of filter.

bs.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by readymade

Well, I respectfully disagree. And I HAVE done research. Certain soft plastics (or rather, the Phthalates that causes the plastic to soften) can cause secondary sexual characteristics. Specifically, they interfere with hormonally-driven reproductive development. And, yes, certain (read: most) hard plastics cause a spike in estrogen levels as well.

I try to avoid ANY kind of plastic as much as I can. 5 years ago, I didn't know about these issues with plastic. What will I find out in 5 MORE years?

If I was being "simplistic" it's because I'm on an Austin forum. Not a scientific lecture.

Yes - some plastics have phthalates....The hard plastic issue with BPA is essentially a non-issue unless the container and water is heated (e.g. baby bottle).

By being simplistic you implied all plastics are bad, which is grossly inaccurate.

A good overview from Johns Hopkins:

Q&A: Bisphenol A and Plastics

[chacha1]

Nice picture of Austin Powers. No doubt fluoride is good for your teeth...but just not to swallow. It's toxic to swallow. That's why we spit it out. Actually, I just heard that my FIL doesn't use toothpaste- only baking soda- and hasn't had a cavity in 15 years! I did a little research on baking soda and it definitely can be used as a toothpaste replacement - if need be (or if you just don't like the bubbles that toothpaste makes like my FIL)....

[jobert]

I'm trying to piece this together:

1. we lack "hard water" that helps make good pizza dough, etc.

2. we use baking soda instead to create to carbon dioxide to give "body" to breads and such.

3. Baking soda is what your FIL has used to successfully fight cavities over the last 15 years.


- my theory is that drinking "hard water" is actually good for the teeth and can prevent cavities - so there is no need to poison ourselves with flouride after all.

[CptnRn]

Not all hardwater is good. Much of the Western Unites States as well as the Great Lakes areas have naturally occuring high floride levels in the ground water that exceeds what is recommended as safe levels. See these maps:

File:Groundwater-fluoride-world.svg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

File:Southern-Arizona-fluoride-groundwater.jpeg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They are part of this wiki article.