Engineering News Blog

Engineering News

Latest news of interest to engineers. Sourced from GlobalSpec's Engineering News

Previous in Blog: After a Tense Delay, NASA's GOES-15 Solar X-Ray Imager Sends Back First Pics   Next in Blog: Vuvuzela vs Sound Engineer: Has the World Cup Stadium Horn Met Its Match?
Close
Close
Close
8 comments
Rate Comments: Nested

Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

Posted June 15, 2010 1:41 PM

From Autoblog:

If you use standard tap water in your windshield washer fluid reservoir instead of a cleaner, you may have effectively turned your vehicle into a biological weapon. Sure, that sounds cool and all, but according to BBC News, the only person you're going to be hurting is yourself. As it turns out, using plain water can cause the washer fluid system to become a breeding ground for Legionella bacterium - the same nastiness that causes Legionaires' Disease and pneumonia.

Read the whole article

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/15/2010 2:25 PM

Yes, but the important thing to keep in mind here is that you'll have low-cost unimpared windscreen vision as you drive yourself to hospital.

Reply
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Hearts of Oak Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: May 2005
Location: In the Garden
Posts: 3389
Good Answers: 75
#2

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/16/2010 4:10 AM

I've found that darned squirrel:

  • So do the world a favor and top off your windshield washer fluid reservoir with some sort of purpose-built cleaner. The stuff will kill the infection-causing bacteria and will keep the fluid from freezing in the winter. Not bad for 99 cents a gallon. Thanks for the tip, Kris!

He's been moonlighting!!

__________________
Chaos always wins because it's better organised.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj,usa
Posts: 1253
Good Answers: 33
#3
In reply to #2

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/17/2010 9:12 AM

See how quickly he forgets his friends!Poor Dell had no idea he was cheating!

__________________
CARPE CRUSTULORUM!
Reply Off Topic (Score 10)
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 12362
Good Answers: 115
#4
In reply to #3

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/17/2010 1:32 PM

I wanna know how this bloke came to think it was swirrels. Did he taste it or something? Wasn't me

__________________
For sale - Signature space. Apply on self addressed postcard..
Reply Off Topic (Score 10)
Guru

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj,usa
Posts: 1253
Good Answers: 33
#5
In reply to #4

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/17/2010 2:54 PM

eeewwww! Not only how did he know but why does he know what it tastes like?

__________________
CARPE CRUSTULORUM!
Reply Off Topic (Score 10)
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Hearts of Oak Popular Science - Paleontology - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: May 2005
Location: In the Garden
Posts: 3389
Good Answers: 75
#6
In reply to #5

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/18/2010 4:28 AM

Perhaps he has a sqwirrel infestation where he lives...

Perhaps he just saw Kris's cousin leaving....

__________________
Chaos always wins because it's better organised.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj,usa
Posts: 1253
Good Answers: 33
#7
In reply to #6

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/18/2010 12:13 PM

I knew a guy who had a squirrel infestation once. The doctor gave him a salve that cleared it up.

__________________
CARPE CRUSTULORUM!
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Etherville
Posts: 12362
Good Answers: 115
#8
In reply to #6

Re: Report: Water as Windshield Wiper Fluid Causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in UK

06/20/2010 5:39 AM

He's called Albert, not "leaving". Easy mistake, he's always leaving in the past

__________________
For sale - Signature space. Apply on self addressed postcard..
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Reply to Blog Entry 8 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (1); English Rose (2); Kris (2); not so smart (3)

Previous in Blog: After a Tense Delay, NASA's GOES-15 Solar X-Ray Imager Sends Back First Pics   Next in Blog: Vuvuzela vs Sound Engineer: Has the World Cup Stadium Horn Met Its Match?

Advertisement