UNPALATABLE WATER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21404, 31 January 1933, Page 12

UNPALATABLE WATER

Sir, —Unpalatable water has its bad effect upon tho health of the commun'ty just as much us contaminated water has, and perhaps more so, because, of its very insidiousness, it is allowed to operate over a long period, whereas a supply of vrater obviously bad is immediately cut off. To keep in good health the human body needs daily flushings with several pints of liquid, preferably pnre water. It is P 05 * sible, however, to train tho body to go through the day with very little liquidCases have been known of individuals in sedentary occupations who, given a reasonable amount of moisture with their food, go for days without a drink at all. But this excessive abstinence invariably leads to a breakdown in health, and to ono of the many clogging diseases to which mankind is subject. A water-supply which is unpleasant to tho taste is the most serious factor in inducing unhealthy drinkless habits ii? a community, especially among t'iie children. The normal healthy child is running to the t? 4 p al» day long. If the water provided, is unpleasant to thß taste, the child's draught is neither long nor deep, nor does th® child drink so frequently. Unconsciously, perhaps, tho child forms a distaste for water. The natural desire is transferred to ico creams, sweets, 'gum, anything to keep the throat moist without having to resort to the offensive water. When water has to be excessively chlorinated,. as in the case of a liupply drawn from a doubtful source, or from the middle of a popu* lated area, tte resulting supply may bo quite free frcirt contaminating germs, and "fit" for human consumption, but nevertheless he very unpleasant to taste. Sir William Mayo, speaking at Rotary in Auckland in i 924, said: '"-Pure water is most important to the community. When I am in Germany I drink beer. When I am in France I drink' wine. When I am in Italy I drink wine. When I am in Britain or America I drink water. In France and Germany and Italy the water is not good." An eminent Auckland doctor, wlio had been Home for his °^. rl health, speaking to a colleague return, once said, "It cost me tIUY to learn to drink water. I drink one ga lon a day and do not keep in good heal - f . unless I do." Austen Goss. Surveyor and Engineer.