Hacker News Reader

Comment by sandworm101 | Hacker News Reader

>> Certainly not having medications in the tap water seems safer

Except for fluoride and chlorine. Small amounts of those chemicals in water are a net health benefit. Society has to be careful about adding anything, but 100% pure water isn't the healthiest choice no matter what the commercials say.

Also iodine in salt.

View on HN

It's possible water without chlorine is beneficial too. Doesn't Paris use ozone and/or UVC instead?

I also wonder about fluoride's benefits if we use toothpaste and mouthwash that has it. For example, I know people on well water or city water without it that don't have teeth issues.

Paris still uses chlorine. It may also use UV but nothing kills bacteria as effectively and constantly as bleach. In a large population with lots of ancient pipes not using chlorine would be very dangerous.

I wonder where I heard that, or if it's a different city.

Also, they are generally using chloramine, not sodium hypochlorite.

I don't think chlorine in water is considered a medication. Chlorine in water is added with the intention of disinfecting the water, for human health reasons, but that disinfection happens before the water is consumed. The chlorine is treating the water, not the humans who drink the water.

Natural flowing water (in streams, rivers) contains ions of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, potassium and fluor, with chlorine content around 10mg/l. Tap water without chlorine treatment would be devoid of most of those and that could be argued unhealthy.

That is - assuming the natural levels are healthy for us.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com