“In 1654, Rembrandt painted a woman, in Amsterdam, bathing in a stream. As she lifts her nightdress above her knees and treads deeper, the woman is stepping from one world into another. Among art historians, the transition she is making is metaphorical. But to a biologist, it is also ecological.
We imagine water to be clean, and we imagine clean to mean lifeless, and yet all the water you have ever bathed in, swum through, or drunk has been full of life, from bacteria to tiny crustaceans. So, too, the pipes in which it travels. As water passes through pipes in general and showerheads in particular, a thick biofilm builds up. Biofilm is a fancy word that scientists use to avoid saying “gunk.” It is made by individuals of one or more species of bacteria working together to protect themselves from hostile conditions—including the flow of water, which constantly threatens to wash them away—via their own excretions.”
This is a very timely article – we work with a lot of private water systems, public water supply systems, and businesses that have a biofilm problem and to be honest I have had this problem in my home (s) that were serviced by both city water and well water.
First Step – Learn
Biofilms and Bacteria – bacteria does not normally grow free-living in the drinking water, but attached to the piping or surfaces within the system as a biofilm. This microbiological community can include a variety of organism that may be aerobic (like or need oxygen), anaerobic (low oxygen), or facultative(in the middle). The bacterial coating may be clear or discolored, create odors, contain trace metals, or promote microbiologically induced corrosion. The bacteria can impact the quality of the drinking water and the integrity of the distribution system. When people test city or well water, they normally only test for total coliform bacteria and may be E. coli., but that is not enough.
Second – Diagnose
The next step is to diagnose, but diagnose is really using a combination of observations and testing to determine if there may be a problem or concer.
We recommend the following:
Visually inspect the plumbing – look in the back of the toilet tank is the wall discolored, if discolored does it feel slimy, look in the bathroom do you see films or coating on showerheads or other surfaces. If you have any clear tubing, does the tubing have any observable films or coatings. If you have a particle filter, does it feel slimy.
Are there any odors or strange smells to the water.
If the water sits, does it have a floating metallic sheen on the surface.
Have you been experiencing problems with discolored water that is black, brown, or even greenish blue?
Flush the water heating tank – what do you see?
If you observe a film or coating, you may have a biofilm problem.
If the bacteria is pink, this may be Serratia marcescens. This is typically an airborne bacteria and we suggest that you wash the services with an anti-microbiological cleaner, monitor and control the humidity of the room, regularly clean the surfaces, wipe down showers after use, and keep the ventilation fan running for at least 20 minutes.
The next question is do you have any health issues?
If health issues are gastrointestinal and you have slime coatings – We recommend testing for total coliform, E. coli., and slime forming bacteria, and standard plate count.
If you do not have health issues, but have slime coatings with discolored water, we would recommend total coliform, iron related bacteria, slime forming bacteria, and standard plate count.
If you major health issues that include respiratory issues with or without gastrointestinal issues we recommend total coliform, E. Coli, and Waterborne Pathogen Panel.
Third Step – Test/ Monitor
Testing can include a variety of measures that include:
NSF/ANSI 401 addresses the ability of a water treatment device to remove up to 15 individual contaminants (listed below), which have been identified in published studies as occurring in drinking water. While not a public health issue, the contaminants covered in NSF/ANSI 401 have been detected in drinking water supplies at trace levels and can affect some consumers’ perception of drinking water quality. (NSF/ANSI 401 also applies to reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment.)
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide): a pesticide and common active ingredient in insect repellents.
401: an organic compound that is widely used as an herbicide.
Linuron: an herbicide often used in the control of grasses and weeds.
Chemical Compounds
TCEP (Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate): a chemical compound used as a flame retardant, plasticizer and viscosity regulator in various types of polymers including polyurethanes, polyester resins and polyacrylates.
TCPP (Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate): a chemical compound used as a flame retardant.
The word “greenhouse” brings to mind a few different ideas. Agriculture and growth, for starters. Protection from the cold, perhaps. Glass walls. Glass ceilings. Greenhouse also refers to a fundamental idea in climate science – the greenhouse effect. But did you know that the greenhouse effect was first discovered by a woman? In this episode we’re telling the story of this discovery by geoscientist Eunice Foote, and we’re talking with some of the people and organizations that are promoting women in the geosciences.
Guests are Mackenzie Cremeans, Ph.D. (Association of Women Geoscientists), Professor Collin Roesler, Ph.D. (Bowdoin College), and Heather Houlton (American Geosciences Institute).
This is the final episode of season 1! If you’ve enjoyed listening, please consider leaving a review on iTunes. It helps others find the show. Thanks!
audioEARTH connects Earth, science and people by sharing compelling audio stories about geoscience.
“(CNN)For 10 years, some residents in Denmark, South Carolina, have been suspicious of the rust-colored water coming from their taps. They’ve been collecting samples in jars and using bottled or spring water, even though the local and state government assured them it was safe.
But through a Freedom of Information Act request and a one-year investigation, CNN has found new information that may cast doubts on those assurances. The state government was adding a substance to one of the city’s four wells, trying to regulate naturally occurring iron bacteria that can leave red stains or rust-like deposits in the water. The substance, known as HaloSan, was not approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency to disinfect drinking water.”
When reviewing some old video, I came across a combative interview I watched in the mid 90s on the “Water Cure” by Mr. Bob Butts. It got my attention because I was just diagnosed with “early” stage high blood pressure and have been an advocate for getting your drinking water tested. To be honest, it was his passion on the issues of that encourage me to follow a path that includes the issues of water. Mr. Butts Hydration so I though it might be nice to post a short story with additional information. He was a hydration advocate. I think I meet Mr. Butts when I did a “Call the Doctor Show” in 1990’s. He was not on the show, but he was in the studio.
“Bob Butts, owner of Cee-Kay Auto Parts stores in Kingston, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Moosic and Scranton, died Monday at his home in Old Forge. He was 83. Although Butts was an auto parts dealer, he spent a fortune trying to cure people’s health problems. For years, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising what he believed to be the cure for every illness. His recommended cure involved drinking an ounce of water for every two pounds a person weighs, using one-quarter teaspoon of sea salt for each quart of water and avoiding alcohol, soda and caffeine.”
“The Water Cure is a natural health care or holistic treatment that helps your body find homeostasis (its natural balance) so that you can have your optimal (best) health. It is the first of several important steps you need to do to correct things that may be causing you to have various diseases and conditions.It is also the most important thing you can do to maintain your best health. This is why this site is dedicated to the curative properties of water and electrolytes (salt, magnesium, potassium and others).”
I would suggest the following – watch the following two videos
Let me be get this straight I am not sure if drinking more water with salt is the answer, but it is clear that proper hydration is key.
I will end with these quotes:
“You’re not sick; you’re thirsty. Don’t treat thirst with medication.” Dr. F. Batmanghelidj
I will add to this – “Some of the time when You feel hungry, your not hungry; you’re thirsty. ”
Brian Oram, PG – NO MD – Have a Blessed Day! Safe Journey
