> While on the subject of water, does anyone know if there has been something
> new added to our drinking water? I've noticed a much stronger smell of
> chlorine (in the past few months) AND noticed a build up of residue in my
> dishwasher. The repair man said it was that the water was too hard. After
> five years here, why is the water too hard now? Any one on this list have
> an inside ear at the Water Dept? I'd just love to know if it's been my
> imagination or if there has been a change in our water.
>
Yes, the Philadelphia region does have, and has always had VERY hard water.
(That's the residue in your dishwasher.)
However, I assume that the primary reason for the increase in noticible
clorine smell is two fold... and they are both essentially the same thing.
The region has been VERY dry. Relative Humidity has been low, skys have
been clear, we've been under more than the usual number of high-pressure
systems, all of which consipire to effectively allow normal out-gassing to
be more noticable in your glass of water, or pot on the stove, (ie close to
your nose) as all of the other "normal" smells in the area are "blown
away." [On the past crisp-clear days, you can easily smell things that
otherwise you never notice. Try it in your garden -- even in the winter.
Once you notice some particular smell, you'll tend to remember that it
exists, and be able to continue to notice it.]
The region has been VERY dry. As a result water sources are running at low
levels. A drought emergency was just declared for the ?state? (I forget the
geographical area). When water sources run low, they tend to concentrate
the amount of "crap" in the remaining water, which necessitates increased
filtration and clorination to protect against water-bourne pathogens.
(Translated... yes, there probably is more clorine in the water.)
Personally, I tend more towards the first part as I experience it regularly
around our home -- but from our cats, rather than the water supply. Some
days, it's very obvious we have cats... other days you can barely tell.
The hard water problem is one that always sneaks up on you. It goes on
constantly, but until the "rind" builds up to a significant size you don't
really notice it.
If you have a humidification system, fountains or similar such things, the
region's hard water is a constant battle. Look to your inside flower pots
that you water with tap water if you want to evaluate rind build-up.
And if you have a south facing kitchen like ours -- this time of year is
the only time when the sun shines directly in the kitchen window and into
the dishwasher during the morning breakfast hours... and you'd be AMAZED at
what a strong oblique light will show compared to direct incandescent
illumination.
--
www.tru64unix.compaq.com
www.tru64.org
T.T.F.N.
William H. Magill Senior Systems Administrator
Information Services and Computing (ISC) Networking & Telecommunications
University of Pennsylvania Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.isc-net.upenn.edu/~magill/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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