Good Eats (1999–2012): Season 10, Episode 6 - Water Works 2 - full transcript
U'VE BEEN WATCHING
"WATERWORLD,"
STARRING KEVIN COSTNER
AND DENNIS HOPPER.
CRITICS OFTEN
REFER TO THIS MOVIE
AS ONE OF THE WORST EVER--
I JUST LOVE THAT MOVIE. I NEVER
GET TIRED OF WATCHING IT.
OH, I KNOW, IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE SCIENCE FICTION,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF IT WASN'T
FOR KEVIN COSTNER'S CHARACTER
HAVING GILLS AND ALL,
THAT COULD ALL HAPPEN.
YEAH. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
WATER ALREADY OCCUPIES, LIKE,
75% OF THE PLANET'S SURFACE.
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED
STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
THE OCEANS CONTAIN
SOME 321 MILLION CUBIC
MILES OF WATER.
OKAY, NOW JUST TO KINDA HELP YOU
GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT,
THAT MEANS IT'S LIKE
1 TRILLION, 1 HUNDRED
AND 3 BILLION,
984 MILLION, 640 THOUSAND
GALLONS PER CUBIC MILE.
EITHER WAY, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A BIG GULP HERE.
AND OF COURSE,
THERE'S ANOTHER 5 MILLION, 733
THOUSAND CUBIC MILES OF WATER
LOCKED UP IN GLACIERS
AND POLAR ICE CAPS.
YOU KNOW, IF THAT
ALL MELTED AT ONCE,
YOUR SKI CHALET
IN THE ROCKIES?
IT'D BE A DIVE DESTINATION.
YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW
YOU LOOK AT THIS SUBJECT,
WATER IS FASCINATING STUFF.
I MEAN, LOOK AT IT THIS WAY--
IT IS THE ONLY
SUBJECT ON EARTH
THAT EXISTS AS A SOLID,
LIQUID AND VAPOR IN NATURE.
NOW, OUR FIRST
AQUATIC EPISODE
FOCUSED ON WHAT
WATER GOES THROUGH
TO GET TO US
HERE IN OUR HOMES.
THIS TIME, LET'S LOOK AT
WHAT YOU CAN AND SHOULD DO
TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT
HERE IN YOUR KITCHEN.
THINK OF IT AS A 30-MINUTE
OWNER'S MANUAL FOR WATER,
WHICH IS NOTHING IF NOT...
¶
(voices)
GOOD EATS!
AS WE POINTED OUT
IN OUR LAST WATER EPISODE,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
ENFORCES VERY
HIGH-QUALITY STANDARDS
FOR DRINKING WATER
IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT THERE ARE THREE THINGS
TO KEEP IN MIND.
THEY ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR WATER
UP UNTIL THE POINT
THAT IT LEAVES THE MAINS.
EVEN IF IT IS
CLEAN AND SAFE--
DOESN'T NECESSARILY
TASTE GOOD.
AND DEPENDING ON THE OVERALL
HEALTH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,
E.P.A. STANDARDS MIGHT
JUST NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT
YOU CAN DO ABOUT THESE ISSUES,
LET US REVIEW SOME
OF THE PROPERTIES
THAT MAKE WATER
SUCH A POTENTIALLY PESKY
SUBSTANCE TO DEAL WITH.
HEY, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT
TO MEET A VERY,
VERY SPECIAL ATOM.
WITH AN ATOMIC MASS
OF 15.9994
AND ATOMIC NUMBER OF 8, HE'S
NUMBER ONE IN OUR HEARTS...
HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON,
AND THANKS FOR BEING
HERE ON THE SHOW.
YEAH, IT'S REALLY
"FANTASTIC"
TO BE HERE.
YES. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T
HELP BUT NOTICE,
JUST FROM THE LOOK
ON YOUR FACE,
YOUR GENERAL DEMEANOR
AND, OF COURSE,
YOUR POSITION ON
THE PERIODIC TABLE
OF ELECTRONEGATIVITY--
PAULING SCALE, OF COURSE--
YOU ARE A VERY.
SURE. YOU WOULD BE,
TOO,
IF YOU HAD A BIG ZERO
ON YOUR CHEST.
MAYBE, MAYBE.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR
THAT ONLY FLUORINE
IS MORE NEGATIVE
THAN YOU, AND HE
HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO GET OUT OF BED
SINCE 1987.
I'M SO NEGATIVE,
I CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF BED.
LEAST HE LOOKS
COMFORTABLE.
HE SURE DOES.
'COURSE, YOU KNOW,
FOLKS DON'T OFTEN FLOCK
TO THIS KIND
OF NEGATIVITY,
BUT CERTAIN ATOMS DO.
FOR INSTANCE--
HYDROGEN!
WHOA!
AH, THAT FEELS...
STABLE.
YEAH, IT IS.
AND NOW WHERE ONCE THERE
WAS JUST A LONELY,
OLD OXYGEN ATOM,
WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW
MOLECULE CALLED WATER!
BUT, OF COURSE,
BECAUSE OF WHERE
THEY BOND TO YOU,
YOU NOW HAVE
AN IMBALANCED
ELECTRICAL CHARGE.
FIGURES.
YEAH, YOU'VE
GOT A POSITIVE
CHARGE UP HERE
AND A NEGATIVE
CHARGE DOWN THERE,
AND, WELL, YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS.
NO.
YOU'RE POLAR.
OH--DOESN'T SEEM
THAT COLD IN HERE.
OH, THAT'S NOT WHAT
I MEAN--
I MEAN YOU'LL NEVER
BE LONELY AGAIN.
WHY'S THAT?
WELL, IF YOU'RE
GROUND WATER,
YOU'RE GONNA RUB UP
NEXT TO PLENTY
OF OTHER
POLAR COMPOUNDS--
YOU KNOW,
ROCK, MINERAL,
STUFF LIKE THAT--
AND THEY'RE GONNA WANT
TO STICK TO YOU LIKE
A MAGNET ON...
WELL, A MAGNET.
THERE. AS YOU CAN
SEE, MY WET FRIEND,
YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT--
NAY, NEAR UNIVERSAL SOLVENT
CAPABLE OF DISSOLVING
A WIDE RANGE
OF MOLECULAR PRODUCTS--
FROM CARBOHYDRATES,
LIKE SUGAR TO PROTEINS
LIKE COLLAGEN,
WHICH IS WHY YOU,
MY FRIEND, ARE CAPABLE
OF MAKING A SIMPLE SYRUP
AND A CHICKEN STOCK.
WHY DON'T
THEY LIKE ME?
AH, FORGET THEM.
THEY'RE HYDROCARBONS.
THEY'RE NONPOLAR.
THEY'RE NEVER GONNA
STICK TO YOU.
BUT BUCK UP!
YOU'RE MINERAL WATER.
OH, SO PEOPLE
WILL PAY A LOT
OF MONEY FOR ME, HUH?
WELL, IF YOU
CONTAIN AT LEAST
250 PARTS PER MILLION
OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS
AND COME IN A REAL
FANCY BOTTLE, MAYBE.
BUT YOU HAVE
TO KNOW THAT,
WELL, GROUND WATER
CAN PICK UP
TOO MANY MINERALS.
FOR INSTANCE, THAT
HYDROGEN SULFIDE
DOWN THERE
CAN MAKE YOU SMELL
AND TASTE LIKE
ROTTEN EGGS.
THAT IRON CAN TURN
WHITE SINKS BROWN.
LEAD CAN LEACH OUT
OF PIPES, ARSENIC--
I'M DOOMED.
OH, NO, THAT'S NOT
THE WORST OF IT.
YOU SEE, YOUR AQUEOUS
NATURE MAKES YOU
THE PERFECT HOST
FOR...
FOR WHAT?
CRITTERS!
HI.
HELLO.
WHAT IS THAT?
A BACTERIA.
NOT SURE WHAT KIND.
E. COLI.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'M DOUBLE-DOG
DOOMED.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
AROUND THIS COUNTRY
DISINFECT WATERS LIKE YOU
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
USING A WIDE RANGE
OF TECHNOLOGIES--
THE MOST COMMON OF WHICH
IS JUST PLAIN GOOD OLD
CHLORINE.
TAKE THAT,
YOU NASTY BUG!
(coughing)
SMELLS LIKE, UH...
SMELLS LIKE MY COUSIN.
HE LIVES IN THE POOL
AT THE Y.
WELL, THAT IS CALLED
"RESIDUAL CHLORINE."
AND ALTHOUGH IT
CAN BE A LITTLE BIT
OF AN ANNOYANCE,
IT'S A SIGN THAT
CHLORINE IS STILL
WORKING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
THINK OF IT AS
A MOLECULAR BODYGUARD.
OH. OH, GOOD, I COULD
US A BODYGUARD.
SPEAKING OF BODYGUARDS,
GENERAL RIPPER IN
"DR. STRANGELOVE"
CALLED IT A "MONSTROUSLY
CONCEIVED AND DANGEROUS
"COMMIE PLOT TO CONTAMINATE
OUR PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS."
BUT THE CDC SAYS
THAT ADDING FLUORIDE
TO TAP WATER
IS ONE OF THE TEN MOST
IMPORTANT HEALTH UPGRADES
OF THE 20th CENTURY.
EVEN A MEASLY
FOUR PARTS PER MILLION
CAN SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN
THE ENAMEL ON GROWING TEETH.
SO IF YOUR KID DOESN'T
SMILE LIKE LEON SPINKS,
ODDS ARE GOOD YOU'VE GOT
FLUORIDE TO THANK.
MOST OF THE WATER THAT FLOWS
THROUGH AMERICAN PIPES
INTO OUR KITCHENS
LOOKS LIKE THIS--
ALL SPARKLING
AND SQUEAKY CLEAN.
BUT WE STILL HAVE TO CONTEND
WITH THESE IMPURITIES.
HELP ME!
ME, ME, ME.
YOU'RE SO SELF-ABSORBED.
I'M THE NEW OIL, G.
YOU WANT FRONT WITH THIS?
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM
THAT SOME ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
AND SOME FILTRATION
COULDN'T FIX.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO
FILTRATION, WE HOME-CONSUMERS
GENERALLY HAVE THREE
OPTIONS.
THE MOST COMMON, AND CERTAINLY
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE
IS A PITCHER OR CARAFE-STYLE
FILTRATION SYSTEM
AND IT WORKS, OF COURSE,
BECAUSE OF THIS WEE,
LITTLE CARTRIDGE HERE.
HEY, LET'S TAKE IT
TO THE LAB.
"FRONT" WITH YOU?
YOU WANNA PIECE OF ME?
REVEALING THE SECRETS
OF A WATER FILTER CARTRIDGE
IS VERY, VERY EASY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS BE WILLING
TO VOID THE WARRANTY
A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WE GO. IT CAN REVEAL
THAT INSIDE THIS LITTLE GUY
YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FORMS
OF MEDIA.
ONE ARE KIND OF LIKE
LITTLE BALLS.
THESE ARE LITTLE PLASTIC
BALLS THAT ARE IMPREGNATED
WITH AN ION EXCHANGE RESIN--
MORE ON THAT LATER.
THE OTHER SUBSTANCE
IS A FORM OF CHARCOAL,
BUT NOT EVERYDAY CHARCOAL.
IT IS, IN FACT, REFERRED TO AS
ACTIVATED OR ACTIVE CHARCOAL.
IT IS A SPECIAL
FORM OF CARBON
THAT IS, UM,
(whistles)
SO RIDDLED WITH LITTLE CRACKS,
NOOKS AND CRANNIES
THAT A MERE GRAM OF IT
POSSESSES THE SURFACE AREA
OF NOT ONE, BUT TWO
TENNIS COURTS.
NOW A WIDE RANGE
OF SUBSTANCES--
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS,
PESTICIDES,
BENZENES, CERTAIN METALS,
RADON, AND CHLORINE GAS--
WILL STICK TO THIS SURFACE
VIA ADSORPTION.
THAT'S WITH A "D."
SPONGES ABSORB, AND THAT'S
ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER.
NOW THIS IS A VERY,
VERY EFFECTIVE
DETOXIFYING TYPE OF MEDIA,
WHICH IS WHY IT IS OFTEN
USED IN RESPIRATORS
AND OLD-FASHIONED GAS MASKS.
BY RUNNING YOUR WATER
THROUGH THIS KIND OF THING,
YOU CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVE
BOTH THE FLAVOR
AND THE AROMA.
SEE THE BUNNY?
SEE THE BUNNY? OKAY
GO GET THE BUNNY!
GO GET IT!
THAT'S THE BEST BLACKBOARD
I EVER HAD.
IF WATER FILTER
CARTRIDGES LIKE THIS
ONLY CONTAINED
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL,
THEN OUR WATER WOULD
DEFINITELY BE CLEANER.
BUT WE WOULD STILL BE
PLAGUED WITH INORGANIC
COMPOUNDS,
THINGS LIKE ARSENIC,
CADMIUM,
CHROMIUM, RADIUM,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE WE HAVE TO GET
RID OF WITH A PROCESS
CALLED ION EXCHANGE.
YOU REMEMBER THOSE
LITTLE PLASTIC BEADS
IN HERE?
UNH-UNH.
OH, WELL, COME HERE,
COME HERE.
HERE WE GO.
NOW, THE BLACK STUFF
IS THE ACTIVE CHARCOAL
AND THE OTHER LITTLE
BEADS--SEE 'EM?
NO.
NO? WELL, OKAY, FINE.
IF YOU COULD
SEE THE BEADS,
EACH ONE OF THEM
WOULD BE KIND
OF LIKE A--OKAY.
LIKE A BIG, BROWN
SUITCASE, OKAY?
THEY'RE SUITCASES THAT
ARE FULL OF IONS.
SOME GOOD IONS--ONES
THAT WON'T HURT YOU, OKAY?
SO WHEN THE WATER
COMES PAST THE BEAD,
THE BEAD PULLS
ALL THESE GUYS OFF.
BUT, OF COURSE, IT CAN'T
JUST LEAVE THEM OFF
'CAUSE THAT WOULD LEAVE
AN ELECTRICAL IMBALANCE.
SO IT SIMPLY REPLACES
THEM WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER
OF GOOD IONS, OR AT LEAST
ONES THAT WON'T HURT YOU.
THERE. AND THEN WHEN THIS
GETS FULL OF BAD IONS,
WELL, USUALLY BY THEN
YOU KNOW YOU'RE READY TO
TO CHANGE THAT CARTRIDGE.
HEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
AH, GREAT.
WELL, YOU LOOK GOOD...
OH!
WHAT'S THAT?
IS IT A TUMOR?
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK IT'S A...
EW.
NO, THAT'S NOT A TUMOR.
THAT'S A GUMMY WORM.
BUT IT'S ALSO
CLEVERLY POSING
AS A BACTERIAL SPORE.
YOU REST.
SPORES AND THEIR
CLOSE COUSINS, CYSTS,
ARE REALLY JUST
HARD, LITTLE CAPSULES
THAT CERTAIN BACTERIA
HIDE INSIDE
IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM
THROUGH THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE.
NOW WHAT MAKES THESE GUYS
SUCH A CHALLENGE
IS ONE, THEY'RE VERY,
VERY, VERY SMALL,
AND TWO, THEY ARE HIGHLY
RESISTANT TO CHLORINE.
BECAUSE OF THAT,
THEY OFTEN SNEAK THEIR WAY
THROUGH MUNICIPAL WATER
TREATMENT PLANTS TO YOUR HOME.
IT'S USUALLY NOT A REAL BIG
DEAL, BECAUSE THE KIND OF BUGS
THAT GENERALLY HIDE
INSIDE THESE THINGS
LIKE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM
AND GIARDIA
HAVE TO ATTACK YOU
IN LARGE NUMBERS
IN ORDER TO REALLY
MAKE YOU SICK.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SMALL
CHILDREN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
OR SENIORS OR FOLKS
WITH ANY KIND
OF IMMUNE SYSTEM PROBLEM,
OR IF YOU'RE
JUST PLAIN PARANOID,
YOU MIGHT WANT
TO GET YOURSELF
A SPORE FILTRATION SYSTEM.
NOW THE PROBLEM IS THAT
MOST FILTRATION SYSTEMS
ARE REALLY ONLY MEANT
TO CAPTURE
PARTICULATE MATTER,
AND THEY'VE GOT SCREENS
THAT ARE
ABOUT 4 TO 5 MICRONS WIDE,
OKAY?
AND THAT'S 4 TO 5
MILLIONTHS OF A METER.
THEY PROBLEM IS THAT THEY
CAN CATCH THINGS
THAT'LL MAKE YOUR WATER
CLOUDY, BUT SPORES--
THEY SLIP RIGHT THROUGH
4, 5, 3,
2 MICRON SCREENS,
RIGHT DOWN TO 1 MICRON.
THIS IS WHAT YOU
REALLY NEED.
HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING?
WELL, YOU WANT TO LOOK
FOR THESE WORDS.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH THAT
A FILTER SAYS IT'S 1 MICRON,
YOU WANT "AN ABSOLUTE
PORE SIZE OF 1 MICRON."
THAT WILL ENSURE
THAT NONE OF THE HOLES
ARE LARGER THAN
1 MICRON, OKAY?
YOU CAN ALSO LOOK
FOR THE N.S.F.,
OR NATIONAL SANITATION
FOUNDATION STANDARD 53 OR 58
FOR CYST REMOVAL.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT MOST WATER FILTERS DO,
YOU CAN CHOOSE
YOUR PLATFORM WISELY.
BESIDES MY FAVORITE
CARAFE MODEL,
FAUCETS MOUNTS
AND UNDER-SINK SYSTEMS
HAVE THE ADVANTAGE
OF A FAR GREATER VOLUME,
AND IN MOST CASES,
WATER PRESSURE TOO.
BUT REMEMBER, NO MATTER
WHAT FORM OF FILTER
YOU DECIDE TO USE,
CARTRIDGES ARE CARTRIDGES,
AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE
REPLACED REGULARLY.
WILL PLUG UP,
THE FILTRATION WILL CLOG,
AND THEN ALL THESE
CARTRIDGES BECOME
KIND OF LIKE BACTERIAL
BREEDING GROUNDS,
WHICH KINDA DEFEATS
THE WHOLE PURPOSE, YOU KNOW?
IN SOME PARTS
OF THIS COUNTRY,
GROUND WATER PASSES
THROUGH LIMESTONE, CHALK,
DOLOMITE OR MARBLE,
AND CAN PICK UP
A LOT OF CALCIUM
AND MAGNESIUM ALONG THE WAY.
SOUNDS KINDA HEALTHY,
ACTUALLY.
WELL, YEAH,
FOR DRINKING.
BUT FOR WASHING,
IT'S KIND OF, WELL...
COME ON, I NEED
A SHOWER.
DUDE, I'M WATER.
I DON'T SHOWER.
COME ON!
SEE, CALCIUM
AND MAGNESIUM
REACT WITH STEARATES
IN THE SOAP,
CREATING A KIND
OF INSOLUBLE SCUM--
VERY NASTY.
MAKES IT REALLY, REALLY
HARD TO FROTH UP ANY SUDS,
WHICH IS WHY THEY
CALL IT "HARD WATER."
AND IT GETS WORSE--
HEY, CAN YOU HAND ME
THAT TOWEL?
THE CALCIUM CAN
PRECIPITATE OUT
OF THE WATER
CREATING HARD, WHITE
SCALES ON THINGS
LIKE THE INSIDES
OF ELECTRIC KETTLES,
HOT WATER HEATERS,
AND THE SPRAY ARMS
INSIDE YOUR WASHING
MACHINE.
ONE TIME IN UTAH,
I SAW A SHOWERHEAD
THAT LOOKED LIKE IT
HAD STALACTITES
HANGING OFF OF IT.
AM I DOOMED?
NO, YOU'RE NOT DOOMED.
WE JUST NEED TO SOFTEN
YOU UP A LITTLE.
LET'S GO TO
THE BASEMENT!
MM-KAY.
NOW, I DON'T WANT
YOU TO WORRY ABOUT
A THING, OKAY?
'CAUSE A WATER SOFTENER
IS NOTHING BUT A BIG
ION EXCHANGE.
GONNA CASH IN SOME
OF THAT MAGNESIUM
AND CALCIUM FOR SODIUM.
THE NICE THING ABOUT
HAVING A BUILT-IN
SYSTEM LIKE THIS
IS IT'LL SOFTEN ALL
THE WATER IN THE HOUSE.
THAT WAY, YOUR HOT WATER
HEATER DOESN'T GET ALL
CRUSTY AND NASTY.
YOU DECORATE
THIS PLACE YOURSELF?
AH, NO, WE RENT
THIS PLACE OUT
TO THIS LITTLE DUNGEON--
ANYWAY, WE WON'T SEE HIM.
SO HERE'S HOW
IT WORKS.
YOU OPEN THIS UP,
AND YOU FILL
THIS RESERVOIR
WITH SALT--THIS IS JUST
BIG, OLD ROCK SALT.
AND THE TANK
FILLS UP WITH WATER.
IT DISSOLVES JUST
A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT SALT,
MIXES IT UP, AND THEN
IT BASICALLY, WELL--
IT KIND OF...
WHAT ARE THESE?
SODIUM.
BUT DON'T WORRY.
IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT.
UNLESS YOU HAVE
A HEALTH-RELATED
SODIUM ISSUE,
YOU'LL NEVER EVEN
KNOW IT'S THERE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH? YOU LOOK
GOOD.
BUT COME ON.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME
CLEANING YOU UP,
WE'RE ALMOST LATE
FOR THE BIG DANCE NUMBER.
COME ON!
DANCE NUMBER?
OH, MAN.
AMAZING, ISN'T IT?
OH, I KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE MUCH FROM HERE,
BUT TRUST ME--THIS IS
A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL.
I MEAN, HAVE YOU
EVER WONDERED WHY
IT TAKES SO GOSH DARN LONG
FOR A POT OF WATER
TO COME TO A BOIL?
BECAUSE WATER HAS
A VERY HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT.
THAT MEANS IT CAN ABSORB
A VAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY
WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING
ITS TEMPERATURE CHANGE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, LET'S TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK, SHALL WE?
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE AVERAGE WATER MOLECULE
MAKES AND BREAKS A FEW DOZEN
HYDROGEN BONDS A SECOND.
IT'S JUST THE WAY
WATER IS.
POUR ON MORE ENERGY, AND
THE BOND BUILDING AND BREAKING
SPEEDS UP CONSIDERABLY,
BUT THE TEMPERATURE
GOES UP VERY SLOWLY.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS,
BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT ONCE A COOKING SOLUTION
REACHES A DESIRED TEMPERATURE,
IT'S A LOT EASIER
TO MAINTAIN THAT TEMPERATURE
THAN IT WOULD BE IN, SAY,
SOMETHING LIKE OIL.
THIS IS WHY WE BAKE DELICATE
CUSTARDS IN A HOT WATER BATH.
WATER ABSORBS HEAT
FROM THE OVEN,
WITHOUT DELIVERING IT ALL
TO THE CUPS.
NOW, ONCE WATER REACHES
212 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
OR 100 DEGREES CELSIUS,
AT SEA LEVEL, OF COURSE,
THE TEMPERATURE STOPS CLIMBING,
AND THE WATER BEGINS TO BOIL.
THAT IS, THE HYDROGEN BONDS
ARE BUILDING AND BREAKING
SO QUICKLY
THAT THE WATER MOLECULES
JUST BEGIN ESCAPING
INTO A VAPOR STATE.
COMPARED TO OTHER SUBSTANCES
THAT ARE LIQUID
AT ROOM TEMPERATURE,
212 FAHRENHEIT
IS DARNED HOT.
ACETONE, FOR INSTANCE,
BOILS AT A MEASLY 132 DEGREES,
METHANOL AT 149,
ETHANOL AT 174.4
AND PROPANIL AT 206.6.
ANYWAY, THE ENERGY THAT IS
CARRIED AWAY BY THIS VAPOR
IS VERY USEFUL, BECAUSE...
WHEN THAT STEAM HITS
A COOLER BODY AND CONDENSES,
THUS CHANGING PHASES
YET AGAIN, IT RELEASES
A HUGE AMOUNT OF HEAT,
WHICH IS WHY THIS BROCCOLI
WILL ACTUALLY COOK FASTER
IN STEAM THAN IT WILL
IN BOILING WATER.
EVEN THOUGH THE WATER
IS OBVIOUSLY FAR DENSER
THAN THE VAPOR.
NOW, THE REALLY GROOVY SIDE
OF THIS EQUATION
IS THAT IF EXPOSED
TO DRY SURROUNDINGS,
REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE,
THAT WATER WILL TURN
BACK INTO VAPOR,
TAKING MORE HEAT WITH IT.
AND THAT IS WHY SWEATING
COOLS US DOWN.
IT'S ALSO WHY CROCKS ARE
GOOD AT KEEPING WATER COOL.
BECAUSE THIS VESSEL IS
EVERY SO SLIGHTLY POROUS,
A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IS
ALWAYS EVAPORATING OUT OF IT.
AND THAT VAPOR COOLS
THE WATER INSIDE,
WELL BELOW THE TEMPERATURE
OF THE AIR ON THE OUTSIDE.
IN FACT,
IN PLACES LIKE INDIA,
THIS TECHNOLOGY IS EXPLOITED
TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE ICE.
OH--SPEAKING OF ICE.
HERE'S YET ANOTHER WAY
THAT WATER'S
CURIOUS HYDROGEN BONDING
ABILITIES MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT STUFF CONTRACTS
AND GETS DENSE
WHEN IT'S COLD, RIGHT?
WELL, WATER IS NO EXCEPTION.
AS THE ENERGY DROPS,
THE MOLECULES GET CLOSER...
AND CLOSER... AND CLOSER...
AND CLOSER...
UNTIL THEY DROP BELOW
FOUR DEGREES CELSIUS.
THEN THEY DO SOMETHING
REALLY STRANGE.
LIKE A MARCHING BAND
AT DRESS RIGHT,
THEY LINE UP AND SPREAD OUT
IN A UNIFORM PATTERN.
EVENTUALLY ALL
MOVEMENT CEASES,
AND THE SOLID CALLED ICE
IS BORN.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
THIS CRYSTALLINE FORM
IS LESS DENSE
THAN THE LIQUID,
WHICH IS WHY ICE FLOATS.
IF YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER
WHO HAS EXPERIENCED
A BUSTED PIPE IN WINTER,
OR A SEA CAPTAIN
WHO'S MAYBE RUN AN OCEAN
LINER INTO AN ICEBERG,
THEN THE RAMIFICATIONS
OF THIS EXPANSION
ARE NOT LOST ON YOU.
AS FOR THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ICE AND THE COOK,
WELL, THAT'LL HAVE TO WAIT
FOR ANOTHER SHOW.
(whispering)
AH, GOOD STUFF.
WELL, I HOPE THAT
WE'VE GIVEN YOU
A NEW APPRECIATION
FOR GOOD OLD H20.
REGARDLESS OF HOW
IT GETS INTO YOUR HOME,
HOW YOU DECIDE TO TREAT
IT ONCE IT'S THERE
CAN RADICALLY IMPROVE
ITS FLAVOR AND PERFORMANCE.
YEAH, THAT FANCY
BOTTLED STUFF AIN'T
GOT NOTHIN' ON ME.
NO, YOU'RE THE AQUA BOMB.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WELL, THANK YOU, LADIES.
HIS BREAK'S OVER.
THANK YOU.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
HOLD ON HERE--
I'M WATER,
ALL RIGHT?
I ERODE MOUNTAINS,
SINK SHIPS, I FILL
THE SKIES WITH CLOUDS,
I SAY WHEN
THE BREAK'S OVER.
OH, YEAH?
WELL, LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
IF YOU DON'T GET OVER
AND ERODE SOME
OF THE REMAINS
OFF OF LAST NIGHT'S
DISHES, THE NEXT VERB
YOU'LL BE CONTEMPLATING
IS "FLUSH."
YEAH, BYE-BYE.
OH, SPEAKING OF "FLUSH,"
AMERICA,
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT
ALTHOUGH WE ONLY
MAKE UP 5% OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION,
WE CONSUME 15%
OF THE WORLD'S FRESH WATER.
NOW, JUST TO PUT
THAT INTO CONTEXT,
THE AVERAGE YOU AND ME
WILL GO THROUGH
105 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY...
THE AVERAGE AFRICAN--15.
JUST A LITTLE BEVERAGE
FOR THOUGHT--HOW YOU
DOING OVER THERE?
YEAH, I'M THE UNIVERSAL SOLVENT,
BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE
TO HAVE A COUPLE OF HANDS.
COME ON, WASH!
Captioning provided by
Scripps Networks, Inc
"WATERWORLD,"
STARRING KEVIN COSTNER
AND DENNIS HOPPER.
CRITICS OFTEN
REFER TO THIS MOVIE
AS ONE OF THE WORST EVER--
I JUST LOVE THAT MOVIE. I NEVER
GET TIRED OF WATCHING IT.
OH, I KNOW, IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE SCIENCE FICTION,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF IT WASN'T
FOR KEVIN COSTNER'S CHARACTER
HAVING GILLS AND ALL,
THAT COULD ALL HAPPEN.
YEAH. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.
WATER ALREADY OCCUPIES, LIKE,
75% OF THE PLANET'S SURFACE.
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED
STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
THE OCEANS CONTAIN
SOME 321 MILLION CUBIC
MILES OF WATER.
OKAY, NOW JUST TO KINDA HELP YOU
GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT,
THAT MEANS IT'S LIKE
1 TRILLION, 1 HUNDRED
AND 3 BILLION,
984 MILLION, 640 THOUSAND
GALLONS PER CUBIC MILE.
EITHER WAY, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A BIG GULP HERE.
AND OF COURSE,
THERE'S ANOTHER 5 MILLION, 733
THOUSAND CUBIC MILES OF WATER
LOCKED UP IN GLACIERS
AND POLAR ICE CAPS.
YOU KNOW, IF THAT
ALL MELTED AT ONCE,
YOUR SKI CHALET
IN THE ROCKIES?
IT'D BE A DIVE DESTINATION.
YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW
YOU LOOK AT THIS SUBJECT,
WATER IS FASCINATING STUFF.
I MEAN, LOOK AT IT THIS WAY--
IT IS THE ONLY
SUBJECT ON EARTH
THAT EXISTS AS A SOLID,
LIQUID AND VAPOR IN NATURE.
NOW, OUR FIRST
AQUATIC EPISODE
FOCUSED ON WHAT
WATER GOES THROUGH
TO GET TO US
HERE IN OUR HOMES.
THIS TIME, LET'S LOOK AT
WHAT YOU CAN AND SHOULD DO
TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT
HERE IN YOUR KITCHEN.
THINK OF IT AS A 30-MINUTE
OWNER'S MANUAL FOR WATER,
WHICH IS NOTHING IF NOT...
¶
(voices)
GOOD EATS!
AS WE POINTED OUT
IN OUR LAST WATER EPISODE,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
ENFORCES VERY
HIGH-QUALITY STANDARDS
FOR DRINKING WATER
IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT THERE ARE THREE THINGS
TO KEEP IN MIND.
THEY ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR WATER
UP UNTIL THE POINT
THAT IT LEAVES THE MAINS.
EVEN IF IT IS
CLEAN AND SAFE--
DOESN'T NECESSARILY
TASTE GOOD.
AND DEPENDING ON THE OVERALL
HEALTH OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,
E.P.A. STANDARDS MIGHT
JUST NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT
YOU CAN DO ABOUT THESE ISSUES,
LET US REVIEW SOME
OF THE PROPERTIES
THAT MAKE WATER
SUCH A POTENTIALLY PESKY
SUBSTANCE TO DEAL WITH.
HEY, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT
TO MEET A VERY,
VERY SPECIAL ATOM.
WITH AN ATOMIC MASS
OF 15.9994
AND ATOMIC NUMBER OF 8, HE'S
NUMBER ONE IN OUR HEARTS...
HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON,
AND THANKS FOR BEING
HERE ON THE SHOW.
YEAH, IT'S REALLY
"FANTASTIC"
TO BE HERE.
YES. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T
HELP BUT NOTICE,
JUST FROM THE LOOK
ON YOUR FACE,
YOUR GENERAL DEMEANOR
AND, OF COURSE,
YOUR POSITION ON
THE PERIODIC TABLE
OF ELECTRONEGATIVITY--
PAULING SCALE, OF COURSE--
YOU ARE A VERY.
SURE. YOU WOULD BE,
TOO,
IF YOU HAD A BIG ZERO
ON YOUR CHEST.
MAYBE, MAYBE.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR
THAT ONLY FLUORINE
IS MORE NEGATIVE
THAN YOU, AND HE
HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO GET OUT OF BED
SINCE 1987.
I'M SO NEGATIVE,
I CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF BED.
LEAST HE LOOKS
COMFORTABLE.
HE SURE DOES.
'COURSE, YOU KNOW,
FOLKS DON'T OFTEN FLOCK
TO THIS KIND
OF NEGATIVITY,
BUT CERTAIN ATOMS DO.
FOR INSTANCE--
HYDROGEN!
WHOA!
AH, THAT FEELS...
STABLE.
YEAH, IT IS.
AND NOW WHERE ONCE THERE
WAS JUST A LONELY,
OLD OXYGEN ATOM,
WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW
MOLECULE CALLED WATER!
BUT, OF COURSE,
BECAUSE OF WHERE
THEY BOND TO YOU,
YOU NOW HAVE
AN IMBALANCED
ELECTRICAL CHARGE.
FIGURES.
YEAH, YOU'VE
GOT A POSITIVE
CHARGE UP HERE
AND A NEGATIVE
CHARGE DOWN THERE,
AND, WELL, YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS.
NO.
YOU'RE POLAR.
OH--DOESN'T SEEM
THAT COLD IN HERE.
OH, THAT'S NOT WHAT
I MEAN--
I MEAN YOU'LL NEVER
BE LONELY AGAIN.
WHY'S THAT?
WELL, IF YOU'RE
GROUND WATER,
YOU'RE GONNA RUB UP
NEXT TO PLENTY
OF OTHER
POLAR COMPOUNDS--
YOU KNOW,
ROCK, MINERAL,
STUFF LIKE THAT--
AND THEY'RE GONNA WANT
TO STICK TO YOU LIKE
A MAGNET ON...
WELL, A MAGNET.
THERE. AS YOU CAN
SEE, MY WET FRIEND,
YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT--
NAY, NEAR UNIVERSAL SOLVENT
CAPABLE OF DISSOLVING
A WIDE RANGE
OF MOLECULAR PRODUCTS--
FROM CARBOHYDRATES,
LIKE SUGAR TO PROTEINS
LIKE COLLAGEN,
WHICH IS WHY YOU,
MY FRIEND, ARE CAPABLE
OF MAKING A SIMPLE SYRUP
AND A CHICKEN STOCK.
WHY DON'T
THEY LIKE ME?
AH, FORGET THEM.
THEY'RE HYDROCARBONS.
THEY'RE NONPOLAR.
THEY'RE NEVER GONNA
STICK TO YOU.
BUT BUCK UP!
YOU'RE MINERAL WATER.
OH, SO PEOPLE
WILL PAY A LOT
OF MONEY FOR ME, HUH?
WELL, IF YOU
CONTAIN AT LEAST
250 PARTS PER MILLION
OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS
AND COME IN A REAL
FANCY BOTTLE, MAYBE.
BUT YOU HAVE
TO KNOW THAT,
WELL, GROUND WATER
CAN PICK UP
TOO MANY MINERALS.
FOR INSTANCE, THAT
HYDROGEN SULFIDE
DOWN THERE
CAN MAKE YOU SMELL
AND TASTE LIKE
ROTTEN EGGS.
THAT IRON CAN TURN
WHITE SINKS BROWN.
LEAD CAN LEACH OUT
OF PIPES, ARSENIC--
I'M DOOMED.
OH, NO, THAT'S NOT
THE WORST OF IT.
YOU SEE, YOUR AQUEOUS
NATURE MAKES YOU
THE PERFECT HOST
FOR...
FOR WHAT?
CRITTERS!
HI.
HELLO.
WHAT IS THAT?
A BACTERIA.
NOT SURE WHAT KIND.
E. COLI.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'M DOUBLE-DOG
DOOMED.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
AROUND THIS COUNTRY
DISINFECT WATERS LIKE YOU
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
USING A WIDE RANGE
OF TECHNOLOGIES--
THE MOST COMMON OF WHICH
IS JUST PLAIN GOOD OLD
CHLORINE.
TAKE THAT,
YOU NASTY BUG!
(coughing)
SMELLS LIKE, UH...
SMELLS LIKE MY COUSIN.
HE LIVES IN THE POOL
AT THE Y.
WELL, THAT IS CALLED
"RESIDUAL CHLORINE."
AND ALTHOUGH IT
CAN BE A LITTLE BIT
OF AN ANNOYANCE,
IT'S A SIGN THAT
CHLORINE IS STILL
WORKING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
THINK OF IT AS
A MOLECULAR BODYGUARD.
OH. OH, GOOD, I COULD
US A BODYGUARD.
SPEAKING OF BODYGUARDS,
GENERAL RIPPER IN
"DR. STRANGELOVE"
CALLED IT A "MONSTROUSLY
CONCEIVED AND DANGEROUS
"COMMIE PLOT TO CONTAMINATE
OUR PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS."
BUT THE CDC SAYS
THAT ADDING FLUORIDE
TO TAP WATER
IS ONE OF THE TEN MOST
IMPORTANT HEALTH UPGRADES
OF THE 20th CENTURY.
EVEN A MEASLY
FOUR PARTS PER MILLION
CAN SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHEN
THE ENAMEL ON GROWING TEETH.
SO IF YOUR KID DOESN'T
SMILE LIKE LEON SPINKS,
ODDS ARE GOOD YOU'VE GOT
FLUORIDE TO THANK.
MOST OF THE WATER THAT FLOWS
THROUGH AMERICAN PIPES
INTO OUR KITCHENS
LOOKS LIKE THIS--
ALL SPARKLING
AND SQUEAKY CLEAN.
BUT WE STILL HAVE TO CONTEND
WITH THESE IMPURITIES.
HELP ME!
ME, ME, ME.
YOU'RE SO SELF-ABSORBED.
I'M THE NEW OIL, G.
YOU WANT FRONT WITH THIS?
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM
THAT SOME ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
AND SOME FILTRATION
COULDN'T FIX.
NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO
FILTRATION, WE HOME-CONSUMERS
GENERALLY HAVE THREE
OPTIONS.
THE MOST COMMON, AND CERTAINLY
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE
IS A PITCHER OR CARAFE-STYLE
FILTRATION SYSTEM
AND IT WORKS, OF COURSE,
BECAUSE OF THIS WEE,
LITTLE CARTRIDGE HERE.
HEY, LET'S TAKE IT
TO THE LAB.
"FRONT" WITH YOU?
YOU WANNA PIECE OF ME?
REVEALING THE SECRETS
OF A WATER FILTER CARTRIDGE
IS VERY, VERY EASY.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
IS BE WILLING
TO VOID THE WARRANTY
A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WE GO. IT CAN REVEAL
THAT INSIDE THIS LITTLE GUY
YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT FORMS
OF MEDIA.
ONE ARE KIND OF LIKE
LITTLE BALLS.
THESE ARE LITTLE PLASTIC
BALLS THAT ARE IMPREGNATED
WITH AN ION EXCHANGE RESIN--
MORE ON THAT LATER.
THE OTHER SUBSTANCE
IS A FORM OF CHARCOAL,
BUT NOT EVERYDAY CHARCOAL.
IT IS, IN FACT, REFERRED TO AS
ACTIVATED OR ACTIVE CHARCOAL.
IT IS A SPECIAL
FORM OF CARBON
THAT IS, UM,
(whistles)
SO RIDDLED WITH LITTLE CRACKS,
NOOKS AND CRANNIES
THAT A MERE GRAM OF IT
POSSESSES THE SURFACE AREA
OF NOT ONE, BUT TWO
TENNIS COURTS.
NOW A WIDE RANGE
OF SUBSTANCES--
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS,
PESTICIDES,
BENZENES, CERTAIN METALS,
RADON, AND CHLORINE GAS--
WILL STICK TO THIS SURFACE
VIA ADSORPTION.
THAT'S WITH A "D."
SPONGES ABSORB, AND THAT'S
ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER.
NOW THIS IS A VERY,
VERY EFFECTIVE
DETOXIFYING TYPE OF MEDIA,
WHICH IS WHY IT IS OFTEN
USED IN RESPIRATORS
AND OLD-FASHIONED GAS MASKS.
BY RUNNING YOUR WATER
THROUGH THIS KIND OF THING,
YOU CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVE
BOTH THE FLAVOR
AND THE AROMA.
SEE THE BUNNY?
SEE THE BUNNY? OKAY
GO GET THE BUNNY!
GO GET IT!
THAT'S THE BEST BLACKBOARD
I EVER HAD.
IF WATER FILTER
CARTRIDGES LIKE THIS
ONLY CONTAINED
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL,
THEN OUR WATER WOULD
DEFINITELY BE CLEANER.
BUT WE WOULD STILL BE
PLAGUED WITH INORGANIC
COMPOUNDS,
THINGS LIKE ARSENIC,
CADMIUM,
CHROMIUM, RADIUM,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE WE HAVE TO GET
RID OF WITH A PROCESS
CALLED ION EXCHANGE.
YOU REMEMBER THOSE
LITTLE PLASTIC BEADS
IN HERE?
UNH-UNH.
OH, WELL, COME HERE,
COME HERE.
HERE WE GO.
NOW, THE BLACK STUFF
IS THE ACTIVE CHARCOAL
AND THE OTHER LITTLE
BEADS--SEE 'EM?
NO.
NO? WELL, OKAY, FINE.
IF YOU COULD
SEE THE BEADS,
EACH ONE OF THEM
WOULD BE KIND
OF LIKE A--OKAY.
LIKE A BIG, BROWN
SUITCASE, OKAY?
THEY'RE SUITCASES THAT
ARE FULL OF IONS.
SOME GOOD IONS--ONES
THAT WON'T HURT YOU, OKAY?
SO WHEN THE WATER
COMES PAST THE BEAD,
THE BEAD PULLS
ALL THESE GUYS OFF.
BUT, OF COURSE, IT CAN'T
JUST LEAVE THEM OFF
'CAUSE THAT WOULD LEAVE
AN ELECTRICAL IMBALANCE.
SO IT SIMPLY REPLACES
THEM WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER
OF GOOD IONS, OR AT LEAST
ONES THAT WON'T HURT YOU.
THERE. AND THEN WHEN THIS
GETS FULL OF BAD IONS,
WELL, USUALLY BY THEN
YOU KNOW YOU'RE READY TO
TO CHANGE THAT CARTRIDGE.
HEY, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
AH, GREAT.
WELL, YOU LOOK GOOD...
OH!
WHAT'S THAT?
IS IT A TUMOR?
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK IT'S A...
EW.
NO, THAT'S NOT A TUMOR.
THAT'S A GUMMY WORM.
BUT IT'S ALSO
CLEVERLY POSING
AS A BACTERIAL SPORE.
YOU REST.
SPORES AND THEIR
CLOSE COUSINS, CYSTS,
ARE REALLY JUST
HARD, LITTLE CAPSULES
THAT CERTAIN BACTERIA
HIDE INSIDE
IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM
THROUGH THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE.
NOW WHAT MAKES THESE GUYS
SUCH A CHALLENGE
IS ONE, THEY'RE VERY,
VERY, VERY SMALL,
AND TWO, THEY ARE HIGHLY
RESISTANT TO CHLORINE.
BECAUSE OF THAT,
THEY OFTEN SNEAK THEIR WAY
THROUGH MUNICIPAL WATER
TREATMENT PLANTS TO YOUR HOME.
IT'S USUALLY NOT A REAL BIG
DEAL, BECAUSE THE KIND OF BUGS
THAT GENERALLY HIDE
INSIDE THESE THINGS
LIKE CRYPTOSPORIDIUM
AND GIARDIA
HAVE TO ATTACK YOU
IN LARGE NUMBERS
IN ORDER TO REALLY
MAKE YOU SICK.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SMALL
CHILDREN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD
OR SENIORS OR FOLKS
WITH ANY KIND
OF IMMUNE SYSTEM PROBLEM,
OR IF YOU'RE
JUST PLAIN PARANOID,
YOU MIGHT WANT
TO GET YOURSELF
A SPORE FILTRATION SYSTEM.
NOW THE PROBLEM IS THAT
MOST FILTRATION SYSTEMS
ARE REALLY ONLY MEANT
TO CAPTURE
PARTICULATE MATTER,
AND THEY'VE GOT SCREENS
THAT ARE
ABOUT 4 TO 5 MICRONS WIDE,
OKAY?
AND THAT'S 4 TO 5
MILLIONTHS OF A METER.
THEY PROBLEM IS THAT THEY
CAN CATCH THINGS
THAT'LL MAKE YOUR WATER
CLOUDY, BUT SPORES--
THEY SLIP RIGHT THROUGH
4, 5, 3,
2 MICRON SCREENS,
RIGHT DOWN TO 1 MICRON.
THIS IS WHAT YOU
REALLY NEED.
HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE SHOPPING?
WELL, YOU WANT TO LOOK
FOR THESE WORDS.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH THAT
A FILTER SAYS IT'S 1 MICRON,
YOU WANT "AN ABSOLUTE
PORE SIZE OF 1 MICRON."
THAT WILL ENSURE
THAT NONE OF THE HOLES
ARE LARGER THAN
1 MICRON, OKAY?
YOU CAN ALSO LOOK
FOR THE N.S.F.,
OR NATIONAL SANITATION
FOUNDATION STANDARD 53 OR 58
FOR CYST REMOVAL.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT MOST WATER FILTERS DO,
YOU CAN CHOOSE
YOUR PLATFORM WISELY.
BESIDES MY FAVORITE
CARAFE MODEL,
FAUCETS MOUNTS
AND UNDER-SINK SYSTEMS
HAVE THE ADVANTAGE
OF A FAR GREATER VOLUME,
AND IN MOST CASES,
WATER PRESSURE TOO.
BUT REMEMBER, NO MATTER
WHAT FORM OF FILTER
YOU DECIDE TO USE,
CARTRIDGES ARE CARTRIDGES,
AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE
REPLACED REGULARLY.
WILL PLUG UP,
THE FILTRATION WILL CLOG,
AND THEN ALL THESE
CARTRIDGES BECOME
KIND OF LIKE BACTERIAL
BREEDING GROUNDS,
WHICH KINDA DEFEATS
THE WHOLE PURPOSE, YOU KNOW?
IN SOME PARTS
OF THIS COUNTRY,
GROUND WATER PASSES
THROUGH LIMESTONE, CHALK,
DOLOMITE OR MARBLE,
AND CAN PICK UP
A LOT OF CALCIUM
AND MAGNESIUM ALONG THE WAY.
SOUNDS KINDA HEALTHY,
ACTUALLY.
WELL, YEAH,
FOR DRINKING.
BUT FOR WASHING,
IT'S KIND OF, WELL...
COME ON, I NEED
A SHOWER.
DUDE, I'M WATER.
I DON'T SHOWER.
COME ON!
SEE, CALCIUM
AND MAGNESIUM
REACT WITH STEARATES
IN THE SOAP,
CREATING A KIND
OF INSOLUBLE SCUM--
VERY NASTY.
MAKES IT REALLY, REALLY
HARD TO FROTH UP ANY SUDS,
WHICH IS WHY THEY
CALL IT "HARD WATER."
AND IT GETS WORSE--
HEY, CAN YOU HAND ME
THAT TOWEL?
THE CALCIUM CAN
PRECIPITATE OUT
OF THE WATER
CREATING HARD, WHITE
SCALES ON THINGS
LIKE THE INSIDES
OF ELECTRIC KETTLES,
HOT WATER HEATERS,
AND THE SPRAY ARMS
INSIDE YOUR WASHING
MACHINE.
ONE TIME IN UTAH,
I SAW A SHOWERHEAD
THAT LOOKED LIKE IT
HAD STALACTITES
HANGING OFF OF IT.
AM I DOOMED?
NO, YOU'RE NOT DOOMED.
WE JUST NEED TO SOFTEN
YOU UP A LITTLE.
LET'S GO TO
THE BASEMENT!
MM-KAY.
NOW, I DON'T WANT
YOU TO WORRY ABOUT
A THING, OKAY?
'CAUSE A WATER SOFTENER
IS NOTHING BUT A BIG
ION EXCHANGE.
GONNA CASH IN SOME
OF THAT MAGNESIUM
AND CALCIUM FOR SODIUM.
THE NICE THING ABOUT
HAVING A BUILT-IN
SYSTEM LIKE THIS
IS IT'LL SOFTEN ALL
THE WATER IN THE HOUSE.
THAT WAY, YOUR HOT WATER
HEATER DOESN'T GET ALL
CRUSTY AND NASTY.
YOU DECORATE
THIS PLACE YOURSELF?
AH, NO, WE RENT
THIS PLACE OUT
TO THIS LITTLE DUNGEON--
ANYWAY, WE WON'T SEE HIM.
SO HERE'S HOW
IT WORKS.
YOU OPEN THIS UP,
AND YOU FILL
THIS RESERVOIR
WITH SALT--THIS IS JUST
BIG, OLD ROCK SALT.
AND THE TANK
FILLS UP WITH WATER.
IT DISSOLVES JUST
A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT SALT,
MIXES IT UP, AND THEN
IT BASICALLY, WELL--
IT KIND OF...
WHAT ARE THESE?
SODIUM.
BUT DON'T WORRY.
IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT.
UNLESS YOU HAVE
A HEALTH-RELATED
SODIUM ISSUE,
YOU'LL NEVER EVEN
KNOW IT'S THERE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH? YOU LOOK
GOOD.
BUT COME ON.
WE SPENT SO MUCH TIME
CLEANING YOU UP,
WE'RE ALMOST LATE
FOR THE BIG DANCE NUMBER.
COME ON!
DANCE NUMBER?
OH, MAN.
AMAZING, ISN'T IT?
OH, I KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE MUCH FROM HERE,
BUT TRUST ME--THIS IS
A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL.
I MEAN, HAVE YOU
EVER WONDERED WHY
IT TAKES SO GOSH DARN LONG
FOR A POT OF WATER
TO COME TO A BOIL?
BECAUSE WATER HAS
A VERY HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT.
THAT MEANS IT CAN ABSORB
A VAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY
WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING
ITS TEMPERATURE CHANGE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, LET'S TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK, SHALL WE?
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE AVERAGE WATER MOLECULE
MAKES AND BREAKS A FEW DOZEN
HYDROGEN BONDS A SECOND.
IT'S JUST THE WAY
WATER IS.
POUR ON MORE ENERGY, AND
THE BOND BUILDING AND BREAKING
SPEEDS UP CONSIDERABLY,
BUT THE TEMPERATURE
GOES UP VERY SLOWLY.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS,
BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT ONCE A COOKING SOLUTION
REACHES A DESIRED TEMPERATURE,
IT'S A LOT EASIER
TO MAINTAIN THAT TEMPERATURE
THAN IT WOULD BE IN, SAY,
SOMETHING LIKE OIL.
THIS IS WHY WE BAKE DELICATE
CUSTARDS IN A HOT WATER BATH.
WATER ABSORBS HEAT
FROM THE OVEN,
WITHOUT DELIVERING IT ALL
TO THE CUPS.
NOW, ONCE WATER REACHES
212 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
OR 100 DEGREES CELSIUS,
AT SEA LEVEL, OF COURSE,
THE TEMPERATURE STOPS CLIMBING,
AND THE WATER BEGINS TO BOIL.
THAT IS, THE HYDROGEN BONDS
ARE BUILDING AND BREAKING
SO QUICKLY
THAT THE WATER MOLECULES
JUST BEGIN ESCAPING
INTO A VAPOR STATE.
COMPARED TO OTHER SUBSTANCES
THAT ARE LIQUID
AT ROOM TEMPERATURE,
212 FAHRENHEIT
IS DARNED HOT.
ACETONE, FOR INSTANCE,
BOILS AT A MEASLY 132 DEGREES,
METHANOL AT 149,
ETHANOL AT 174.4
AND PROPANIL AT 206.6.
ANYWAY, THE ENERGY THAT IS
CARRIED AWAY BY THIS VAPOR
IS VERY USEFUL, BECAUSE...
WHEN THAT STEAM HITS
A COOLER BODY AND CONDENSES,
THUS CHANGING PHASES
YET AGAIN, IT RELEASES
A HUGE AMOUNT OF HEAT,
WHICH IS WHY THIS BROCCOLI
WILL ACTUALLY COOK FASTER
IN STEAM THAN IT WILL
IN BOILING WATER.
EVEN THOUGH THE WATER
IS OBVIOUSLY FAR DENSER
THAN THE VAPOR.
NOW, THE REALLY GROOVY SIDE
OF THIS EQUATION
IS THAT IF EXPOSED
TO DRY SURROUNDINGS,
REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE,
THAT WATER WILL TURN
BACK INTO VAPOR,
TAKING MORE HEAT WITH IT.
AND THAT IS WHY SWEATING
COOLS US DOWN.
IT'S ALSO WHY CROCKS ARE
GOOD AT KEEPING WATER COOL.
BECAUSE THIS VESSEL IS
EVERY SO SLIGHTLY POROUS,
A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IS
ALWAYS EVAPORATING OUT OF IT.
AND THAT VAPOR COOLS
THE WATER INSIDE,
WELL BELOW THE TEMPERATURE
OF THE AIR ON THE OUTSIDE.
IN FACT,
IN PLACES LIKE INDIA,
THIS TECHNOLOGY IS EXPLOITED
TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE ICE.
OH--SPEAKING OF ICE.
HERE'S YET ANOTHER WAY
THAT WATER'S
CURIOUS HYDROGEN BONDING
ABILITIES MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT STUFF CONTRACTS
AND GETS DENSE
WHEN IT'S COLD, RIGHT?
WELL, WATER IS NO EXCEPTION.
AS THE ENERGY DROPS,
THE MOLECULES GET CLOSER...
AND CLOSER... AND CLOSER...
AND CLOSER...
UNTIL THEY DROP BELOW
FOUR DEGREES CELSIUS.
THEN THEY DO SOMETHING
REALLY STRANGE.
LIKE A MARCHING BAND
AT DRESS RIGHT,
THEY LINE UP AND SPREAD OUT
IN A UNIFORM PATTERN.
EVENTUALLY ALL
MOVEMENT CEASES,
AND THE SOLID CALLED ICE
IS BORN.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
THIS CRYSTALLINE FORM
IS LESS DENSE
THAN THE LIQUID,
WHICH IS WHY ICE FLOATS.
IF YOU ARE A HOMEOWNER
WHO HAS EXPERIENCED
A BUSTED PIPE IN WINTER,
OR A SEA CAPTAIN
WHO'S MAYBE RUN AN OCEAN
LINER INTO AN ICEBERG,
THEN THE RAMIFICATIONS
OF THIS EXPANSION
ARE NOT LOST ON YOU.
AS FOR THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ICE AND THE COOK,
WELL, THAT'LL HAVE TO WAIT
FOR ANOTHER SHOW.
(whispering)
AH, GOOD STUFF.
WELL, I HOPE THAT
WE'VE GIVEN YOU
A NEW APPRECIATION
FOR GOOD OLD H20.
REGARDLESS OF HOW
IT GETS INTO YOUR HOME,
HOW YOU DECIDE TO TREAT
IT ONCE IT'S THERE
CAN RADICALLY IMPROVE
ITS FLAVOR AND PERFORMANCE.
YEAH, THAT FANCY
BOTTLED STUFF AIN'T
GOT NOTHIN' ON ME.
NO, YOU'RE THE AQUA BOMB.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WELL, THANK YOU, LADIES.
HIS BREAK'S OVER.
THANK YOU.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
HOLD ON HERE--
I'M WATER,
ALL RIGHT?
I ERODE MOUNTAINS,
SINK SHIPS, I FILL
THE SKIES WITH CLOUDS,
I SAY WHEN
THE BREAK'S OVER.
OH, YEAH?
WELL, LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
IF YOU DON'T GET OVER
AND ERODE SOME
OF THE REMAINS
OFF OF LAST NIGHT'S
DISHES, THE NEXT VERB
YOU'LL BE CONTEMPLATING
IS "FLUSH."
YEAH, BYE-BYE.
OH, SPEAKING OF "FLUSH,"
AMERICA,
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT
ALTHOUGH WE ONLY
MAKE UP 5% OF THE WORLD'S
POPULATION,
WE CONSUME 15%
OF THE WORLD'S FRESH WATER.
NOW, JUST TO PUT
THAT INTO CONTEXT,
THE AVERAGE YOU AND ME
WILL GO THROUGH
105 GALLONS OF WATER A DAY...
THE AVERAGE AFRICAN--15.
JUST A LITTLE BEVERAGE
FOR THOUGHT--HOW YOU
DOING OVER THERE?
YEAH, I'M THE UNIVERSAL SOLVENT,
BUT IT SURE WOULD BE NICE
TO HAVE A COUPLE OF HANDS.
COME ON, WASH!
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