Drinking Water, filtration?

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Tom, I'm curious

You've tested the filtered water and found no bacterial activity...did you also test the unfiltered water when it was "pretty rank?" If so, what did you find? I'm sure there had to be mold and fungi spores, but what about bacteria? If there were any, was any of it pathogenic? If so, what?

 

[Tom Hadoulias]

Peggy, I did test both...

and you are correct, all kinds of stuff in the water supply side. We did not specifically identify the little swimmers as when you get to the micro biologic level there are so many classifications of virus, pathogens and the like that we just defined them as heavy biologic activity that defininately included fungi as the predominant culprit. As for Matias's dissagreement with the Seagull unit and the need for .5 micron filtration I am neither a salesman for the company nor a micro biologist but 20 microns seems a little too coarse for my liking when your health is at stake. I've seen a lot of pathogens and viruses under the electron microscope that would swim through that matrix with no problem at all. It's not the stainless steel that your paying for, it's the technology for the structured matrix filter that Seagull has developed. The filter does not invite bacterial growth where paper and charcoal will. My experience with charcoal is for organic chemicals predominantly, not particulate or biologic filtration. I particularly do not want to maintain my tanks at the chlorine level of either city water or swimming pools while cruising nor do I want the corrosive environment in my aluminum tanks and pumps so I'll stick with what I've got. It has not failed me and we've never been sick from drinking water directly from the filter when I wouldn't touch the supply. Peggy, I probably could get my lab to do a specific analysis on the water but it would probably scare you. We might have to add a distiller aboard!Tom HadouliasS/V Lite Chop

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

I'm not challenging, Tom...genuinely curious

to know just what DOES grow in an onboard water system that's supplied with (supposedly) "purified" municiple water. It's always been my understanding that what does can be very unpleasant, but not dangerous--at least not to a healthy immune system. Otoh, I've heard from someone who claims to be an expert on the subject that municipal water is anything BUT safe, and that deadly diseases can even enter the system through the tank vent. I want to know the truth, 'cuz I've never heard of anyone getting sick from onboard water unless it was taken on in a 3rd world country.It's also my understanding that just avoiding drinking the water doesn't guarantee protection from pathogenic bacteria a viruses...some can penetrate the skin (showering or hand washing), others are released into the air and can be inhaled. I'm not trying for a degree in micro-biology, but I'd really love to know more about any potential REAL dangers from onboard water vs water that's only aethestically unappealing. E-mail might be a better place to continue the discussion...if you're willing, I'm in the directory.

 

[Terry]

Hi Ed, I've been drinking tank water from both...

our H28 and now our P42 for almost four years with no ill effects. I do the seasonal tank preparation procedure that Peggie recommends, which leaves the water fresh and sweet throughout the season. The chances of Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other microcritters entering the tank from municipal water systems is pretty remote because of the chlorine dioxide treatment widely used. Picking up a virus from municipal waters is even more remote and almost unheard of, but becomes a risk in third world countries.Whatever gives you peace of mind works. I've thought of installing a PUR faucet filter to remove sediment, but our water stays so clean I drink from the tank tap. I figure my body will take care of any other impurities like mold, etc. Besides, it might have nutritional value.Terry

 

[Steve Dion]

Every location is different.

Terry:We have had primarily ONLY well water in our boat since it was new April 1987. When I opened the water tank to repair the seal (and clean the tank) there was only a fine sedement of the bottom of the tank. So as for worrying about sedement in the tank from a municipal source, I do not think I would worry about it very much.We also have an inline filter on the pickup from the bottom of the tank to the pump. This has never been replaced or cleaned.So in my opinion I do not think that I will do anything either. I normally drink beer for breakfast <g> but I do make coffee in the morning from the tank. I would feel much different about drinking this water if I had a fragile immune system, but for now it's beer for breakfast, wine for lunch and wiskey for dinner. Water is for brushing the teeth and making coffee.

 

[Clyde]

US has the cleanest drinking water in the world!

I agree with Steve, every location is different. Because of the US EPA's drinking water monitoring requirements, the chance of contaminated municipal water is almost unheard of. In the state of Washington, the state health department oversees 4,300 water systems. Any water system in the state that serves more than 25 customers must have their water tested once a month. In 2000, the state health department issued 126 advisories to boil water and only 62 last year.In 2000, seven children died and thousands of people in Walkerton, Canada got sick due to E. coli contamination in the city's drinking water supply. Walkerton is located near Ontario, Canada. In 2000, Walkerton had a population of 5,000. I don't consider Canada to be a third world country.The water system in the city of Blaine, WA serves a population of 4,855. The water system in the city of Kennewick, WA serves a population of 60,780. The city of Blaine exceeded the EPA's total Coliform limit three times from 1993 - 1996. Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially-harmful, bacteria may be present. Coliforms were found in more samples than allowed and this was a warning of potential problems. The city of Kennewick only exceed the limit in total Coliform once in 1993. Terry, in Semiahmoo marina, do you get your drinking water from the city of Blaine?The water in the US is safe to drink, but if you have a weaken immune system and don't want to gamble, take whatever measures you feel comfortable with. EPA wed site where you can check your state and city's local drinking water information.www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htmFair Winds.Clyde

 

[Terry]

Hi Clyde, as far as I know our marina water ...

comes from the Blaine municipal water system. At home in Mukilteo we get ours from the Sultan watershed, softer than at Semi-ah-moo, and the best.Then we lived in Euless, TX for ten years (just west of Dallas). The water was so hard you could cut it with a knife, and smell! It was actually worse tasting than San Diego or Tampa.Terry

 

[Tom Hadoulias]

Peggy, did you get my email?

Not sure it went through the directory as it's a blind email address to the sender. You can email me directly if you like and we can talk some more, hadoult@usano.ksc.nasa.gov and I'll be happy to pass on what I have. Tom HadouliasS/V Lite Chop

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Got it but haven't been able to read it yet

It's on my desktop hard drive, and the desktop is in the hospital right now for a couple of transplants to replace some cards that were causing conflicts. I'm picking it up tomorrow.