h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Reddyfreddy - why do the labels of different types of bottled waters give differing pH levels?
And I don't mean the ones with added fruit juices.

I found that item via google

http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/dynapage.taf?file=/bdj/journal/v194/n4/full/4809905a.html

Differing pH levels for waters from different springs/sources are entirely feasible - dependent on the minerals dissolved in the water. My point is that filtering water won't make any difference to the pH.

On the second item - the water isn't being just filtered, it's having stuff added to it. I'd warrant that their use of the word "filter" could reasonably be subjected to a legal challenge.

RF

Thanks for info and link

It is a britta jug my friend has. The article seems to imply that as long as you change the filter often, the ph wont fall too low.

I guessed, from Teuchtars original post on the matter that the reason for the ph drop might be the removal of alkaline 'contaminants' from the water, however one dentists reply states that it is the carbon filter used in the jug, that 'adds' acidity, but to within acceptable levels

Oh well.. i think, on balance i'll still buy one.

So should EV and I buy a Brita filter or continue to drink Grangemouth 'council juice'?

I'd stick with the local 'juice' - and be glad you don't have to put up with the stuff down here!

I would say that if the taste of your local juice bothers you, buy one, as the taste improves markedly upon filtering (in my opinion), however i wouldn't buy one simply on health grounds (acidity issues aside) as the stuff out of the tap anywhere in the UK is perfectly safe and healthy (we apparently have some of the highest water standards in the world

Mind you- the jugs are pretty cheap- about £20-30 plus filters, so if you decide not to use it much, it aint the end of the world. It would just have to compete with the sandwich toaster, food mixer, and coffee perculator for space in the cupboard/attic/cellar/bin

Do the filters eliminate trace elements of drugs in the water? A recent news article suggesting the mains supply is contaminated with Prozac made me glad I'm a bottled water drinker. Have always drunk bottle water simply because I prefer the taste.

There was a programme on telly the other day (one of a series) called "Should I worry about...water?" They tested tap water from around the UK for all the nasties that make such wonderful stories in the press and found...zilch. Nada. Nothing. No drugs, hormones, nitrates etc. Go ahead and drink it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/shouldiworryabout/water.shtml

RF

Prozac in the drinking water? Who wrote that, Pravda?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3545684.stm

I to saw the programme mentioned by Reddyfreddy. It was pretty emphatic in its conclusions as to the purity of tap water.

It is interesting to note that the last sentence of the article mentioned by FamousFi says:

>> The exact amount of Prozac in the nation's drinking water is not known. <<

If there were any real danger, the DWI would have known about it, even if it is a low as one part per million.

Seems to me that this is an example of the journalism that prompted the TV programme in the first place which is part of a series "What should we worry about..."

There was a scare some time ago about the amount of oestrogen in drinking water from discarded sanitary towels. This has proved to be groundless.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Stuart