Richard Jones' Log: "Organic" water
I've just noticed a 10-liter container of water in our kitchen that is proudly labelled "organic". I presume they're trying to convince purchasers that "organic" water is somehow good for them. Well, I guess they convinced someone, though no-one here is actuall owning up to it. I for one fondly recall (mostly because I wasn't there ;) Sydney's last experiments in "organic" water supply.
See this for more information on the Sydney cryptosporidium crisis - I can attest to the accuracy of the information in the anonymously-authored article :-) In the near future surveillance for outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis and other infectious diseases are likely to be powered, at least in part, by Python - see http://www.netepi.org - well, at least in NSW, but maybe other States as well.
FYI. The National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce Edition 3.1 (as well as 3.0) reads as follows:
3.5.8 Water cannot be produced or harvested and labelled as organic or bio-dynamic.
Unfortunately, the standard only covers exports.
"Our kitchen" does not equal "the kitchen in our home" but, I'm assuming, "the kitchen in the office of Richard's employer". Just want to make it clear that I'm in no way responsible for encouraging the organic water supply business.