CON JOB?: A couple diverse comments today on our report Monday
on the pros and “cons” of bottled water when compared to tap
water.

Barney Snyder of Tucson, Ariz., writes, “Amen to your article on
bottled water. What a con job. Our public is so darn gullible. It
is as if they just can’t find a better way to spend their
money.”

“We have used ground water mostly in Tucson but the growth and
subsequent lowering of the aquifer has made it necessary to bring
water from the Colorado River, 200 miles west, via an aqueduct.

“Now, we dump it on the ground and let it seep into the aquifer.
How much is lost to evaporation, I don’t know.

“They tried using treated Colorado River water several years ago
in a targeted older neighborhood. Apparently the treatment caused
the years of built-up sediment in the pipes in the existing homes
to break loose.

“To make a long story short, it cost the city a few million
dollars to repair and/or replace the pipes in those home.

“You are lucky in Bradford as you have natural water. In my mind
anyone who drinks that bottled stuff is either brain washed or
needs a lobotomy. I’ll likely hear from some of my friends over
that one. Guilty!

From the other end of the country, we hear from Judith dePonceau
of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine: “Regarding Bradford water: Well, yes,
but I started carrying water in a bottle when Bradford was having
that nasty parasite thing.”

“It was Mount Jewett water then that I carried, but from then on
after I left, if I wasn’t sure of the source of a town’s water
supply (was it open water?) I bought bottled water.

“In Maine, many wells have naturally occurring arsenic in them.
I drink Poland Springs, purchased in large containers, and refill
small bottles. And by the way, we have mandatory recycling here,
run by the towns, and deposits on soda and water and juice and beer
bottles.

“The towns save a lot of money by reducing their solid waste
stream and make some on recycling materials.

“I couldn’t believe it when I found out that people in McKean
County were throwing away bottles and cans and paper, cardboard,
etc. If they’re found in our garbage, the towns will give the
garbage back. Same way in Mass. and N.J. Get with it,
Pennsylvania!”