Radioactive well water? Sheesh! Over here we have to worry about perchlorates and rocket fuel residue in the city's water supply. (Li li li LI li li li....)

That's probably not what physicists are referring to when they talk about "heavy water" used in atomic research.

Heck, turned out my grandparents had arsenic in their well . . .

It happens *naturally* too, not just from grudges!

One of the factors confusing the autopsy of Napoleon after his death on St. Helena was abnormal amounts of arsenic in post-mortem locks of hair. It grew into a controversy, with the official cause of death given as stomach cancer and the "conspiracy" theory insisting on either accidental, life-time accumulation of arsenic (through hair tonic and other sources), and deliberate poisoning. the most recent investigation last year supports original offiical finding.

Arsenic could once be found in glue and in wallpaper, as well as hair tonic, and was given as a purgative! Now days it's only fit for insect pests.

*Nods.* Yup. All kindsa lethal stuff has been used for 'health', in the past.

I laughed like hell, when Coca-Cola said they were returnin' to the 'original' recipe . . .

The original recipe wouldn't even sell on the stength of the cocaine in it, or even ten times to cocaine. I haven't had it myself, but I had some "original recipe" Moxie once, and it was hideous. It tasted like I'd imagine shoe polish dissolved in carbonated stale coffee would. Bitter. People forget that these beverages were first introduced as patent medicines, and for years were drunk for health and a pick-me-up. The sugar came later, when it was found people could hold down more cola if it was sweet.

As an ex-Mainer, I am very familiar with Moxie. It's very unpleasant.

I know the amount of coca-plant extract was minimal, but the concept was what made me laugh.

Yet another of his illustrations that never really loses it's message.
New York water, Tokyo water, Mexico water, France pipe-mistakes, Lake Ontario water...
It dosn't matter where you are: Always check to see if your city has a real water purification plant on the starting end of it's water pipes.

I gather one of the latest trouble spots is Alberta, but the provincial Conservatives there are even more efficient at suppressing information, bamboozling the public, and preventing effective complaints than the Bush administration in Washington.

(Read "Stupid to the Last Drop", a book about Alberta's Oilocracy. You'll never eat oil again... )

my folks had a well that had highly carbonated water calcium carbonate. the water sparkled and left a mineral build up, verry "hard" waster great for brewing though!
--Rick

Must have odd in cooking, or did heating the water force the carbonation out of it? Imagine soup that fizzed like hot Coke!

The worst water I ever drank was near Toledo Ohio. It was at a gas station. I used a water fountain and nearly spat it all out -- it tasted strongly of sulpher! Apparently all the water in that township did. Must be great customers for bottled water, now that you can buy it anywher.

yup and precipitated right onto the pans but it was good drinking water my folks ran it through a softener and that helped
--Rick