From: realityhacker@gmail.com   
      
   There is a reason that its not safe to drink from rivers or lakes   
   anymore. It has to do with our sewer systems.  In the beginning   
   we used out houses, that stored all of the sewage underwater in   
   something like a well.  We still basically do this, in what we call   
   septic tanks.   
      
   Septic tanks don't get pumped out and delivered to treatment   
   centers. They are naturally filtered by the earth.  The problem   
   this causes to ground water is terrible.  All of the sewage enters   
   the underground water table.   
      
   In order to drink the water we have to pump it out of the ground   
   from a well, at the water treatment center.  The water then   
   undergoes a sanitation process. And the excess sewage is   
   returned back to the earth.   
      
   Before all of this drinking well water, or drinking from a river would   
   be fine most of the time. The rivers were clear as well and full of fish.   
      
   Another bit of trivia is what we do to process water once it gets to your   
   house from the water treatment plant.  You have a machine called a   
   water softener.  Its job is to take all of the minerals out of the water.   
   This is done because when you do dishes the mineral deposits will build   
   up on your pots and pans and leave a white residue.   
      
   Go figure, you probably thought there were open sewer tunnels to explore or   
   something.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)