You'd think that, living on one of the Greak Lakes, water might be in the headlines of the Erie Times-News more often. It is today, as veteran reporter George Miller writes about two new treatment systems being tested at the County's largest water plant. If successful, the treatments could make Erie's drinking water as pure as bottle water.

Coincidentally, earlier in the week, health reporter David Bruce wrote about children whose teeth are decaying because they're drinking so much sugary juice. Also, he mentioned in his story that bottled water isn't the greatest for kids because it contains no fluridation.

What many people in Erie, Pa. don't realize is how much fresh water we're blessed with in this region. Comes with living at the edge of Lake Erie. All you have to do is travel out west -- to dry and arid Arizona, New Mexico, California and other places where water is so precious.

Do you remember the movie "Chinatown"? Jack Nicholson starred as a private detective in that one, and all the evil went back to water rights for the city of Los Angeles. Wouldn't happen here, because water is so plentiful. It's not as cheap as it once was. Until two decades ago, home owners in the city consumed as much water as they wanted in a year's time -- usually for well under $100. Fire trucks used to come to your house and fill your swimming pool for free.

That's no longer the case, although water here remains a very good deal. It also tastes quite good, and it's exciting to think new treatments would make it taste better.

I've become a big fan of bottled water in recent years, because it's so convenient. I don't drink coffee or tea, but I do enjoy pulling out my bottle and taking a big swig out it several times a day. Here in Erie, it seems a crime to pay $1.25 for a bottle of water out of the vending machine.

Perhaps it's time for the city to consider bottling its own water.

-- Kevin Cuneo

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