A report in last week's paper claimed water purification specialist Mr. Colin Palmer told Hamilton Lions that sulphuric acid can cause significant damage to motor vehicle engines. In fact, he said the damage could be caused to vehicle finishes.

A local water purification specialist yesterday warned that future supplies of the Island's most important resource could become health-threatening if proper steps are not taken now to protect it.

Mr. Colin Palmer told the Hamilton Lions that rainwater collected in Bermudian tanks are not as pure as first thought because rain has collected dust, dirt, soot, gases, minerals and other impurities as it falls.

And the manager and part-owner of Bermuda Boiler Specialists and Reverse Osmosis Systems said Pembroke residents are directly affected by the soot which is released directly into the atmosphere from Belco's waste heat boilers three times per day.

He said a 1991 Government-initiated report by the Biological Station found that an estimated 5.9 tonnes of sulphur dioxide is emitted from Belco every day, and an additional daily dose of 3.9 tonnes comes from the rest of the Island's stacks and motor vehicles.

When joined with water, said Mr. Palmer, sulphuric acid is formed and adds to the already corrosive atmosphere. This sulphuric acid can cause significant damage to motor vehicle engines, although its amounts are not significant enough to cause health problems.

Besides the soot, Bermudians also have to contend with more ordinary contaminants such as the bacteria and viruses carried in bird droppings, and organic particles such as leaves and twigs.

While Mr. Palmer emphasised that there is no immediate danger, he said the Island could experience serious problems in the long term unless proper steps were taken now to ensure the purity of Bermuda's water supply.

Mr. Palmer said a Clean Air Act "with teeth'' was needed, and expressed hope that regulations currently being written could fit the bill.

He also called for legislation governing water purification systems and processes which can be brought into the country by anybody at present. He warned that inferior products sold by inexperienced persons could be catastrophic.

When a service deals with public health, he said, standards should be regulated and closely watched by the Government. "We would like to see a more strict approach to this subject before we reach the situation which is at present bothering the US,'' he said.

The consumer must be made aware of certain bodies like the Water Quality Association and the National Sanitation Foundation which deal with nothing but the compliance of manufacturers with standards and regulations.

Products of superior quality carry the seal of one of these organisations.