Bugs in the bottles

“An anxious father has issued warnings to parents about bacteria found lurking in his daughter’s water bottle,” writes a Perth correspondent.

“I have often wondered about the accumulation of dirt at the bottom of glasses and bottles – and not just those containing water. A glass in our bathroom used mostly for rinsing out our mouths after cleaning our teeth is cleaned out after use, but still gathers dirt at the bottom – it has to be given a going-over in the dishwasher regularly.

“The bathroom wash-hand basin taps have also to be scrubbed under the water outlets as they too accumulate dirt – a surprising amount of it too, all from running water. This has been more and more noticeable in recent years.

“Some years ago, we picnicked by the river near Glencarse and I noticed a foamy scum which clung to the bank. I am sure that did not exist when I worked as a student at the salmon fishing on the Venture station near Glencarse in the 1950s.”