Australians warned about water purifier scams.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Australians warned about water purifier scams.

The New South Wales Fair Trading Department has warned local residents to reject bogus sales calls claiming the quality of tap water supplied by Sydney Water is harmful and that they need to purchase a water purifier and/or have their drinking water tested. A Sydney official said its drinking water meets Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines and does not require further purification by customers. Residents were also warned that scammers may misrepresent themselves as Sydney Water employees. [Fair Trading and Sydney Water warning on water scam. News release, Feb 20, 2012] In 2011, residents were warned that scammers misrepresenting themselves that way were offering shower head replacements. "Water purification" scams are common in many parts of the world.

From Quackwatch.

[redunderthebed]

I think they would get more business if they focused on the fact that australian tap water wherever you go tastes like shit. Which is in not so many words what legit operators do/benefit from. In broken hill a town on the border between NSW and SA the tap water is so foul tasting that selling bottled water and water coolers etc is almost an industry in itself i tried it and trust me i thought our town water was gross this was on another level.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Can you get Britta filters down there?

[Azathoth]

I think they would get more business if they focused on the fact that australian tap water wherever you go tastes like shit. Which is in not so many words what legit operators do/benefit from. In broken hill a town on the border between NSW and SA the tap water is so foul tasting that selling bottled water and water coolers etc is almost an industry in itself i tried it and trust me i thought our town water was gross this was on another level.

If they put that shit in some fancy bottles and rattled off some pseudoscientific woo about ancient aquifers and minerals they could clean up in health food shops.

[redunderthebed]

Can you get Britta filters down there?

Yup and the revolutionary new system of tying a stocking over the tap which is what we do with our rainwater tap out in the laundry.

I think they would get more business if they focused on the fact that australian tap water wherever you go tastes like shit. Which is in not so many words what legit operators do/benefit from. In broken hill a town on the border between NSW and SA the tap water is so foul tasting that selling bottled water and water coolers etc is almost an industry in itself i tried it and trust me i thought our town water was gross this was on another level.

If they put that shit in some fancy bottles and rattled off some pseudoscientific woo about ancient aquifers and minerals they could clean up in health food shops.

Well if the cunts in the health food shop in some areas can get away with charging $25 for a loaf of bread based on some buddhist woo i'm sure that would be a fucking walk in the park. Anyway that trick has being done to death just pick up any brand name bottle of mineral water or bottled water and read the label.

[Svartalf]

Evian is seriously fine water if it comes from the real source, don't know if they sell in Oz, though I don't want to see the price tag going with whatever they are selling.

[Jason]

our rainwater tap out in the laundry.

Is that something like a bucket catching rainfall dripping off the house roof? I thought those were only in westerns.

[JimC]

our rainwater tap out in the laundry.

Is that something like a bucket catching rainfall dripping off the house roof? I thought those were only in westerns.

We have tanks for rainwater that we use for the toilet and the garden (12,000 litres, scarcely a bucket...), because the water companies are steadily increasing their rates, and because it is an environmentally sensible thing to do....

But the mains water here is excellent for drinking - Melbourne water is the best in Oz...

[tattuchu]

If you get this call, tell them you're fine because you use your own personal water filtration system: you drink your own urine

[Jason]

our rainwater tap out in the laundry.

Is that something like a bucket catching rainfall dripping off the house roof? I thought those were only in westerns.

We have tanks for rainwater that we use for the toilet and the garden (12,000 litres, scarcely a bucket...), because the water companies are steadily increasing their rates, and because it is an environmentally sensible thing to do....

I suppose.. I would have thought untrapped rain water would filter its way through the ground and replenish the water table.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

our rainwater tap out in the laundry.

Is that something like a bucket catching rainfall dripping off the house roof? I thought those were only in westerns.

We have tanks for rainwater that we use for the toilet and the garden (12,000 litres, scarcely a bucket...), because the water companies are steadily increasing their rates, and because it is an environmentally sensible thing to do....

I suppose.. I would have thought untrapped rain water would filter its way through the ground and replenish the water table.

Or turn to steam when it hit the ground.

[rasetsu]

I've never been impressed by Evian. I can't think of an international brand that I'm familiar with which is really good. Fortunately, a chain grocery store here sells a generic spring water which is quite excellent.

Only water coming close to that, off the top of my head, is Glaceau smart water, but that's rather pricey. In general, spring water taste can be rather variable, but it's usually better than purified water.

I have a filter for my tap that I got on clearance, but haven't installed it.


What is special about this particular bunch of scams that is noteworthy?

[Cormac]

Bet the Irish travellers are involved in that scam.

[Jason]

Blame the Irish - odds are in your favour.

[Cormac]

Blame the Irish - odds are in your favour.

Well, in this case it could actually be true.

Travellers from Ireland (a subgroup in our society - I'm not talking about tourists) make a lot of money by targetting different countries with different scams, from selling cheap shitty generators rebadged as high-end Hondas (in Paris last year study did this to poor people who need the generators for heat and light as they can't afford mains electricity), in other countries they Hulu elderly people into parting with cash for very badly asphalted driveways, and many other scams.

Last year a bunch of them were deported for running similar scams in Australia.