Drinking water

Yes, this is sparking a lot of conversation here:
http://caribbeanbusiness.com/nrdc-to-un … ing-water/

Yes, this is an issue here in PR.  We were not happy with the water quality from the utility.   So we were purchasing bottled water that we we used for coffee and all cooking.   But we still had problems with grit or sediment that was causing problems with pluming.

Sooooo   I had the plumber install a whole house water filtration system, three large filters that clean all water coming into the house.   water tastes better, ice is clear and oder free, and filtered again at the refrigerator. 

I think it is a cheap and effective way to improve water quality, no more fouled valves either.

Still, I would like to have a water sample tested for quality.   Not sure  where we can get water tested in PR, anyone know?

How much was the system and does it remove lead and copper?
Not much can be done about medicines diluted in the water and some carcinogens to my knowledge with home filtration. They help but nothing is perfect.
Maybe collecting rain water but that likely has Sahara desert contamination. But probably better than what comes out of the pipes

Puerto Rico is one of the toughest lookups for anything Government wise. Anyone have a report on what the contaminations are and the counts?

Oh ya, Rey, couldn't open that file you posted..

"I had the plumber install a whole house water filtration system, three large filters that clean all water coming into the house.   water tastes better, ice is clear and oder free, and filtered again at the refrigerator. "

Wow! Three of them! I have a system here that I use the 10" filter on the incoming, runs to my Ph balancer, then through a secondary 10".
Man, if you have 3 of these 10" units.. ain't much getting past it all!

You folks have wells down there?
Ya, I know, not everyone can, but do they exist?

Best I could find is Coliform Bacteria. In itself not bad but a precursor or sign of worst.
Seems this all comes down to how sewage is handled.
I do remember you Rey, speaking of this issue before.

I look at this as one more reason of being as independent as possible down there.
As I am here in NH.

Our problem is the clothes! Towels feel like sand papers!!

adlin20 wrote:

Our problem is the clothes! Towels feel like sand papers!!

Possible hard water, check into that

I have heard of people having a posó or well but have not seen many. The question is if the water will be any better given we do not know what contamination is on the ground in the surrounding area.

olddawgsrule wrote:

Oh ya, Rey, couldn't open that file you posted..

Try this one, it's the same article from NBC: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/repo … is-n756906

Another problem that is hitting the poorest hard. They can't afford to install filters or buy bottled water.

Who knows how many health problems people had had over the years due to this. It is a shame that they been wasting money and borrowing to waste some more instead of fixing it a bit at a time.

This is a similar problem as that city in the US that was in the news and the Federal government I believe helped the town, it was affecting 100,000, ours is affecting 3.5 million. But nobody cares.

You're right on all accounts.
The sad truth s that there's no (fast) solution so  there's yet another problem we'll have to live with.

Sometimes I wonder if the price for living in paradise isn't getting too high...

Gary wrote:

Sometimes I wonder if the price for living in paradise isn't getting too high...

Sometimes I think the same, specially dealing with bureaucracy, but when I sit on my hammock and look at the view from my balcony I say "hell yeah, is worthed"

ReyP wrote:

I have heard of people having a posó or well but have not seen many. The question is if the water will be any better given we do not know what contamination is on the ground in the surrounding area.

Rey,

Pozos are regulated by DNR, unless you have land and do some type of farming, it will be hard to optain permits. Only few people do them and finding someone to drill it is harder and expensive. You will be better of with getting a property with river or a creck to pump water from. And even that is ilegal. Another way the government wants to make sure you are tied to the water company.

Not interested in a Poso I was responding to a question.

I had to lookup Pozo, and it's what I thought.. A Hand dug well, or as well call then in the Nor'east..

No, not a great choice for humans, animals, etc... Great for crop irrigation.

Guess I should have been more specific.. Artesian style well.

By the way water is going up in January. AAA have not yet determined or publish the rate but the Federal Control Board has assigned them to make 1,020 million more a year.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/english/engli … n-2320291/