I was just listening to it on Radio 4 and the BBC news site points out that the report hasn't been peer reviewed but:

"Dr Andrew Mayes, of the University of East Anglia and one of the pioneers of the Nile Red technique, told us it was "very high quality analytical chemistry" and that the results were "quite conservative".

Michael Walker, a consultant to the Office of the UK Government Chemist and founder board member of the Food Standards Agency, said the work was "well conducted" and that the use of Nile Red has "a very good pedigree". Both of them emphasised that the particles below 100 microns had not been identified as plastic but said that since the alternatives would not be expected in bottled water, they could be described as "probably plastic".

One obvious question is where this plastic may be coming from. Given the amount of polypropylene, which is used in bottle caps, one theory is that the act of opening a bottle may shed particles inside.

It doesn't look like Volvic or Waitrose Essential were tested and one answer is to make your own water.

 

I was just listening to it on Radio 4 and the BBC news site points out that the report hasn't been peer reviewed but:

"Dr Andrew Mayes, of the University of East Anglia and one of the pioneers of the Nile Red technique, told us it was "very high quality analytical chemistry" and that the results were "quite conservative".

Michael Walker, a consultant to the Office of the UK Government Chemist and founder board member of the Food Standards Agency, said the work was "well conducted" and that the use of Nile Red has "a very good pedigree". Both of them emphasised that the particles below 100 microns had not been identified as plastic but said that since the alternatives would not be expected in bottled water, they could be described as "probably plastic".

One obvious question is where this plastic may be coming from. Given the amount of polypropylene, which is used in bottle caps, one theory is that the act of opening a bottle may shed particles inside.

It doesn't look like Volvic or Waitrose Essential were tested and one answer is to make your own water.

It would appear that now as well as the likes of Sahara Sand migrating into our rain water there's likely to be plastic along with everything else.

Jon.

 

It doesn't look like Volvic or Waitrose Essential were tested and one answer is to make your own water.

On a humorous note....avoid bottles labelled ,'Passed by management'.

(Because we just know they are full of it!)

 

Presumably the health effects are mitigated by only consuming approximately 30ml of the water 2-3 times a day!

Given where I live (Bath), these plastics cannot be anywhere near as bad for my coffee machine as the tap water...

 

Presumably the health effects are mitigated by only consuming approximately 30ml of the water 2-3 times a day!

Given where I live (Bath), these plastics cannot be anywhere near as bad for my coffee machine as the tap water...

I'd only use 'Bath' water as a last resource

.

Jon.

 

I'd only use 'Bath' water as a last resource

.

Jon.

Having tasted Bath water I'd be inclined to agree with you. It's very 'mineraly' & the lead pipes the Romans laid don't help. [emoji57]

 

Having tasted Bath water I'd be inclined to agree with you. It's very 'mineraly' & the lead pipes the Romans laid don't help. [emoji57]

And did you observe their method of toilet waste disposal

.

Jon.

 

RO is your friend.

 

RO is your friend.

Hello DavecUK.

If you have this system or have knowledge of it (Might be a silly question) what would the annual costs be for a domestic system and are they totally reliable given the necessary routine action being adhered to ?.

Jon.

 

Having tasted Bath water I'd be inclined to agree with you. It's very 'mineraly' & the lead pipes the Romans laid don't help.

And did you observe their method of toilet waste disposal

.

Jon.

Now steady on... this is all getting a bit too "what did the Romans ever do for us"!

I'll have you all know that Bath is a fine coffee loving city, with many many coffee shops, some of which are even quite good. And the terribly hard water was just a good excuse for me to get intimate with the innards of my Gaggia Classic.... twice...

 

Back on plastic. We've got plastic rice on R4 today. And not really plastic but it was on the same bit of news - wallpaper paste injected shrimps.

 

Back on plastic. We've got plastic rice on R4 today. And not really plastic but it was on the same bit of news - wallpaper paste injected shrimps.

They'll never catch on !!!!.

Jon.

 

Hello DavecUK.

If you have this system or have knowledge of it (Might be a silly question) what would the annual costs be for a domestic system and are they totally reliable given the necessary routine action being adhered to ?.

Jon.

I do have an RO system, my current one is 4 years old now, or perhaps a tad more. I have put one charcoal cartridge in it, disinfected the tank 2 or 3 times (although it's not really necessary). The RO membrane is still OK, but I might just buy an entire new system this year. It only takes a while to refit one as I reuse the exiting pipework and tap. I use a 4 stage pumped system. The system I currently use is no longer made, but the filters still are, they are pretty standard. Cost can be anything from £100-£200 depending on the type of pumped system and who you buy it from. I strongly recommend them as your espresso machine faults drop pretty much to zero..I use bicarb to treat the RO water to buffer acidity and add ions back for taste.

http://coffeetime.wikidot.com/reverse-osmosis

 

I do have an RO system, my current one is 4 years old now, or perhaps a tad more. I have put one charcoal cartridge in it, disinfected the tank 2 or 3 times (although it's not really necessary). The RO membrane is still OK, but I might just buy an entire new system this year. It only takes a while to refit one as I reuse the exiting pipework and tap. I use a 4 stage pumped system. The system I currently use is no longer made, but the filters still are, they are pretty standard. Cost can be anything from £100-£200 depending on the type of pumped system and who you buy it from. I strongly recommend them as your espresso machine faults drop pretty much to zero..I use bicarb to treat the RO water to buffer acidity and add ions back for taste.

http://coffeetime.wikidot.com/reverse-osmosis

Thanks DavecUK.

I searched the WWW and contacted a company who were supposed to ring me back within the hour and typically they didn't, I fully intended to install a larger reservoir, maybe 25ltr and pump it as I already have a suitable diaphragm pump, I would have installed a filter as a matter of course, but that news regard plastic more or less negated the reason for using bottled.

I'll peruse the link you've provided and hopefully glean some information from it.

Jon.