I Have A Question That Has Been Nagging At Me & Wonder If A More

Scientific mind than I have can be of help. I live in Sarasota County in Florida, and water here has never been of good quality because we are right on the Gulf. We are connected to city water, but there are many times that even the tea I make comes out cloudy because of the water content.

I "suspect" we are going to be impacted by this oil spill or actually think it's inevitable. I "could" be wrong because the loop looks like it heads down to the Florida Keys and then back up the eastern coast. Even though my home isn't actually ON the beach front, I do live in a sub-division that's 3 ft' below sea level and I can walk to the beach.

BUT, before you actually get to the Gulf, there is an Intra-Coastal Waterway that separates our place from the water.

Even with what I DON'T know, I'm SURE I won't be eating any fish, etc., that will be caught in this area, but does anyone have an idea how this spill might affect my "city" water? There is a creek nearby of what is called "brackish" water, a mixture of fresh and salt water and this is why I'm asking.

I don't buy bottled water for reasons of my own, but I wonder if this might be something I WILL have to rethink. I suspect the Bottled Water companies are going to start making a LOT of profit, but I still don't want to BUY more water and I'm thinking the prices of water will be going up too!

So... which will be worse, city water or buying bottled water that "maybe" you don't know where it's coming from??

Yeah, I know kind of took a long time to get to the point.

:think: :dilemma:

if you want to improve the quality of the city water you are drinking that may be the route for you.


not that I am anything that would remotely resemble an expert on this subject

I mean, seriously, what comes out of the tap smells like a dirty swimming pool. It's disgusting.

But, we've found two things which render it quite drinkable. First, those .25/gallon water dispensers you can find in many parking lots. Those filters do an amazing job. Also, there are the Brita and PUR filters you can stick on your kitchen tap. Those come out to about a quarter per gallon also in filter cartridge costs. I'd recommend trying those options before you start buying bottled water at the store for a buck or so a gallon.

Yet I hate that bottled water comes in plastic, and although very recyclable, most don't end up being recycled.

is good, but I always envision this big warehouse where water is being bottled and something like a hose is filling up the plastic with just "plain" old creek water! Now they are beginning to realize that water in plastic is probably harmful to you!

Yes, filters will probably be the way to go with drinking water, but even now getting my white clothes white are a problem! There are even times when some of my clothes actually look like they have been spotted with little oil spots when I wash clothes! And they are very difficult to remove too!

I suppose I'll just have to wait this one out. I have dogs and cats and feed a lot of wildlife, especially squirrels and I worry about them too!

Thanks for the input, guess I better get that filter real quick because the prices may be going up on them too!

What a disaster!

funny at all! I'm expecting that our bad water will get worse, and dread the thought of sitting in a tub that may be more contaminated because of this!

The county may just start dumping more "chemicals" into the water to make it appear more palatable, but the bottom line is still a CHEMICAL PROBLEM!!