GOOD TO THE LAST DROP?

Use of water softening equipment has been prevalent for some time, particularly where hard water from wells is the source of supply. Typically, water softeners employ the ion exchange method, using salt in the form of pellets or blocks.

From time to time, there has been debate over potential health effects of using salt in this way, which can result in some salt being added to the softened water. In addition, in at least one state-California-some communities have banned water softeners using salt because of perceived adverse impacts of effluent salt brine on waste water treatment plants.

Interestingly, American history may provide a unique alternative to the traditional water softener method. According to an 1831 New York scientific report, urine provided am effective water softener for high concentrations of minerals being experienced due to runoff from graveyards and outhouses.

The report purportedly stated: "This liquid, [urine] when stale or putrid, has the remarkable property of precipitating the earthy salts from their solution, or in other words, it makes hard waters soft. Although the fastidious may revolt from the use of water thus sweetened to our palate, it is perhaps fortunate that this mixture is daily taking place, for otherwise the water of this city would become, in a much shorter space of time than it actually does, utterly unfit for domestic consumption." (Quote from Nelson Blake, "Water For Cities" in ON TAP magazine, Summer 2005)

In a way, this water softening technique may have been attempted in 2011. It was reported that a man was caught on a security camera urinating into one of Portland, Oregon's finished water reservoirs. The city, however, responded by draining the reservoir of some 8 million gallons. The man was quoted as saying that he thought it was a waste water treatment plant. (Oregonian.com, June 15, 2011) A policeman was quoted as saying "It's really an unfortunate incident that probably could have been avoided if he had just chosen a bush." (KGD.com, June 16, 2011) The man later allegedly pleaded guilty to "misuse of a reservoir" and was sentenced to community service (KPTV.com August 30, 2012).

An analysis has been made of the residential sewage flows in London during the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The flows decreased when the first guests arrived at Westminster Abbey, decreased more rapidly when the royal family arrived and reached the largest decrease when Kate arrived. Flows did not return to normal until after the kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. (WE&T magazine, August 2011) Perhaps this analysis suggests that urine water softening may not be reliable.