Cyprus-Forum.com

[Get Real!]

Humans contribute with the added boron found into detergents & untreated sewage.

It's all that shitty bog roll that goes to the landfill because they cannot flush it!

They should make the 70,000 odd Brits cork up their bums… after all they’re the ones buying those shoddy villas that can’t handle toilet paper!

[georgios100]

Boron in Cyprus is mostly due to natural geothermal activity. Humans contribute with the added boron found into detergents & untreated sewage. In addition, excessive pumping of groundwater leads to seawater creeping into the aquifers.

Boron can be toxic at very low concentration levels. Boron concentration lower than 1mg/L is essential for plant development, but higher levels can cause problems in sensitive plants. Most plants exhibit toxicity problems when the concentration of boron exceeds 2mg/L

Very sensitive <0.5 Blackberry
Sensitive 0.5-1.0 Peach, cherry, plum, grape, cowpea, onion, garlic, sweet, potato, wheat, barley, sunflower, sesame, strawberry
Moderately sensitive 1.0-2.0 Red pepper, pea, carrot, radish, potato, cucumber
Moderately tolerant 2.0-4.0 Lettuce, cabbage, celery, turnip, oat, corn, artichoke, tobacco, mustard, squash
Tolerant 4.0-6.0 Tomato, alfalfa, purple, parsley, sugar-beet
Very tolerant 6.0-15.0 Asparagus

Source: Extracted from the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh & Marine Waters (ANZECC)

The numbers above suggest we always test our irrigation water to avoid surprises...

One thing is for sure. Never drink or cook using Cypriot groundwater... you are asking for trouble. Even if the well was tested & found safe, testing should be ongoing (every 6 months to make sure).

I got a few PM's from people who had no idea this problem existed. Well, the rule of thumb is... test & test again if you are on a well. Better safe than sorry.

Are there any quick and easy test kits for Boron?

Actually there is a "homemade" test you could do easily, using an extract of an Indian spice... very easy to do. Be patient & watch the whole video. It's really very interesting and could be... fun!

Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9l-spro3tY

[Oracle]

Boron in Cyprus is mostly due to natural geothermal activity. Humans contribute with the added boron found into detergents & untreated sewage. In addition, excessive pumping of groundwater leads to seawater creeping into the aquifers.

Boron can be toxic at very low concentration levels. Boron concentration lower than 1mg/L is essential for plant development, but higher levels can cause problems in sensitive plants. Most plants exhibit toxicity problems when the concentration of boron exceeds 2mg/L

Very sensitive <0.5 Blackberry
Sensitive 0.5-1.0 Peach, cherry, plum, grape, cowpea, onion, garlic, sweet, potato, wheat, barley, sunflower, sesame, strawberry
Moderately sensitive 1.0-2.0 Red pepper, pea, carrot, radish, potato, cucumber
Moderately tolerant 2.0-4.0 Lettuce, cabbage, celery, turnip, oat, corn, artichoke, tobacco, mustard, squash
Tolerant 4.0-6.0 Tomato, alfalfa, purple, parsley, sugar-beet
Very tolerant 6.0-15.0 Asparagus

Source: Extracted from the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh & Marine Waters (ANZECC)

The numbers above suggest we always test our irrigation water to avoid surprises...

One thing is for sure. Never drink or cook using Cypriot groundwater... you are asking for trouble. Even if the well was tested & found safe, testing should be ongoing (every 6 months to make sure).

I got a few PM's from people who had no idea this problem existed. Well, the rule of thumb is... test & test again if you are on a well. Better safe than sorry.

Are there any quick and easy test kits for Boron?

Actually there is a "homemade" test you could do easily, using an extract of an Indian spice... very easy to do. Be patient & watch the whole video. It's really very interesting and could be... fun!

Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9l-spro3tY

Love it! -- a little cross-contamination, but undeniable colour change.

I wonder if that is at the root of the therapeutic effects of Turmeric I keep going on about ?

[georgios100]

Boron in Cyprus is mostly due to natural geothermal activity. Humans contribute with the added boron found into detergents & untreated sewage. In addition, excessive pumping of groundwater leads to seawater creeping into the aquifers.

Boron can be toxic at very low concentration levels. Boron concentration lower than 1mg/L is essential for plant development, but higher levels can cause problems in sensitive plants. Most plants exhibit toxicity problems when the concentration of boron exceeds 2mg/L

Very sensitive <0.5 Blackberry
Sensitive 0.5-1.0 Peach, cherry, plum, grape, cowpea, onion, garlic, sweet, potato, wheat, barley, sunflower, sesame, strawberry
Moderately sensitive 1.0-2.0 Red pepper, pea, carrot, radish, potato, cucumber
Moderately tolerant 2.0-4.0 Lettuce, cabbage, celery, turnip, oat, corn, artichoke, tobacco, mustard, squash
Tolerant 4.0-6.0 Tomato, alfalfa, purple, parsley, sugar-beet
Very tolerant 6.0-15.0 Asparagus

Source: Extracted from the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh & Marine Waters (ANZECC)

The numbers above suggest we always test our irrigation water to avoid surprises...

One thing is for sure. Never drink or cook using Cypriot groundwater... you are asking for trouble. Even if the well was tested & found safe, testing should be ongoing (every 6 months to make sure).

I got a few PM's from people who had no idea this problem existed. Well, the rule of thumb is... test & test again if you are on a well. Better safe than sorry.

Are there any quick and easy test kits for Boron?

Actually there is a "homemade" test you could do easily, using an extract of an Indian spice... very easy to do. Be patient & watch the whole video. It's really very interesting and could be... fun!

Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9l-spro3tY

Love it! -- a little cross-contamination, but undeniable colour change.

I wonder if that is at the root of the therapeutic effects of Turmeric I keep going on about ?

Yep, you are correct again Oracle, thanks.

[Gasman]

It's not the villas GR. Keep telling you - it's your THIRD WORLD SEWAGE SYSTEM.

Just been reading about this problem in America. Apparently, the finding of used bog roll in the bins in the toilet is a good indicator that an illegal immigrant last used it.

And sod villas, and apartments. It is the disgusting practice and the signs instructing people what to do IN RESTAURANTS & HOTELS all over the island that is a problem.

Some people (not you lot obviously) are disgusted to find this out after arriving. Others just cannot believe it.

Want a selection of comments from the Travel Sites?

Wasn't it Lady O who said this is just a 'practical joke' that GCs played on tourists?

The mentality behind that remark - well?

Kidding tourists and restaurant and hotel customers that they cannot put used dirty bog roll down the pan and have to put it in a bin instead.
So that later you can have the pleasure of EMPTYING IT! lol! Laughing all the way to the dustbin at how many tourists you 'hoodwinked'.

Unbelievable lol! But sounds about right for the 'logic' of some.

[Gasman]

The Ultimate Cyprus Website:

One of the most common questions about Cyprus is "can you flush toilet paper down the toilet?"

Greece and Cyprus are famous for having a toilet system that cannot cope with toilet tissue. If you did put the tissue down the toilet it could easily cause a blockage!

This sign is placed above the majority of toilets in Cyprus. If you see this sign, you must not place toilet paper down the toilet, it must be placed in the bin to the side of the toilet.

SHOULDN'T ONE OF YOU BE CONTACTING THESE TRAVEL ADVICE SITES TO TELL THEM IT WAS ALL A HUGE PRACTICAL JOKE?

And try telling the proprietors of bars and cafes down the tourist strip in Limassol that it is just a joke. When they are up to their knees in 'imaginary joke' shite unblocking loos because the tourists either ignored the signs or are so used to wiping and flushing they did it without thinking lol!

It's a good idea to take some nappy sacks with you for your visit to Cyprus, this way you can put your used toilet tissue into a nappy sack and tie it before placing it in the bin provided.

[Gasman]

Tell Trip Advisor too (cheer up these horrified potential visitors)

Paphos Forum: A Important Question About Toilets In Cyprus Hotels

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g190384-i9212-k810598-A_Important_Question_About_Toilets_In_Cyprus_Hotels-Paphos.html

[Get Real!]

It's not the villas GR. Keep telling you - it's your THIRD WORLD SEWAGE SYSTEM.

My house doesn't have any sewerage problems... you can even flush down tampons no problems!

Like I said it all depends on the size of the pipes used. The shoddy villas probably use the little ones (3") because they're cheaper!

[shahmaran]

You guys also have to throw the paper in the bin, instad of the toilet??

Wow, I thought it was just a North thing.

What is the deal with that?

[SKI-preo]

Shah, Do you have to put used bog paper in a bin at the 7 Star Scrotum Hotel ?