46 "Living" Water

On a trip to the north I got as far as "Selukia Spring" in the Golan Heights which provides water for one of the water bottling firms. I drank to my heart's content of the sweet, cold water – it was a pleasure. But at the pumping station "Sapir" near the Kineret, I heard that bottled water is no better than the water that flows from all the taps in the country; the only difference is the taste, because of the chlorine that is added to the water that reaches our homes.

How did they manage to convince us to refuse to drink tap water and to consume only bottled water which is a thousand times more expensive? It is indeed true that chlorine somewhat spoils the taste, and the neglected pipes in many places in the country (among them those near my home) cause dirt and rust to enter the water. But it would have been possible to overcome these difficulties by improving the local water infrastructure or by means of filterization. If that is so, why don't the authorities deal with the problems of the local water systems? Apparently for the lack of funds.

And what is even more frustrating is that the money we pay the water bottling companies would easily suffice to solve the problem if it was used to improve the water infrastructure. I read that in California people have begun to drink tap water again for environmental reasons. Why don't we follow in California's footsteps? The water from the Selukia spring is wonderful, that's true. But in order to drink it at home or in a restaurant would require a large distribution network which would pollute the environment. And add to this the problem of plastic bottles.

After all this, let's return to the spring. Although the little spring in the picture is man made, it is impossible to remain indifferent to the magic of gushing clear, pure water flowing between basalt rocks. Note the clean, dry rock on the side of the spring and observe the fresh color of the wet rock.