I got my 2006 City of Worcester Water Operations Water Quality Report [pdf link] in the mail the other day. Reading it is like studying for a test... and I'm not ready to take that test yet.I was thinking of asking someone who's more fully versed in chemistry just what it all might mean. But I'm reminded of that scene in Star Wars where Obi-Wan Kenobi says to the Imperial trooper, "These aren't the droids you're looking for..."
I stopped drinking Worcester water about ten years ago. I noticed in the text of the report that the "...Worcester Water Filtration plant, which began operating in 1997..." has been using Ozonation; Coagulation and Flocculation using cationic polymer and alum; Direct Filtration; pH Adjustment with lime; Disinfection with chlorine; and Corrosion Control with blended phosphate corrosion inhibiter, during this past ten years.
I laud them for their efforts in this ridiculously litigious society.
Way back in the 1970's my grandfather once made a comment about the growing availability of bottled water in local supermarkets. "Now there's a product that won't make much headway in New England," he said.
Had he lived to smell and taste the water that comes out of Worcester faucets today, he'd probably be even more upset about it than I am. If you're interested in learning what the future has in store regarding water, there's a good online resource for water related developments and plans at the Sierra Club.
2 comments:
I never much minded the taste of Worcester's water, but I never figured it was that great, either. Then earlier this year I listened to curmudgeon Dan Dick praise our local water system, and I started to have second thoughts:
http://www.pieandcoffee.org/2007/04/18/daniel-dick-on-worcesters-water-supply/
Relatively speaking, Dan Dick speaks sooth in that clip. When compared to the rest of the world, he's pretty much on the money.
When it comes to actually drinking Worcester water, however, it's the addition of cationic polymers and alum, lime, chlorine, and a blended phosphate corrosion inhibitor that tends to put me off... Even though these things are "removed" after they've done their respective jobs at the filtration plant.
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