A while back, I asked for advice on any caulking, etc. product which would be safe for potable water supplies. I got lots of interesting suffestions, mostly how to avoid the need to use any type of caulking (by using various pipe fitting arrays, a situation I had already considered, but which would not work for my particular problem.)

One person quoted the label on a brand of silicone cauling (GE?), which stated that it was safe for potable water supplies.

Thank you again, everyone who responded. Alas, I cannot find the thread anywhere, or this posting would continue on same.

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you that I just found another product: "Harvey's Plumber's Epoxy Putty". I've used it in the past, and found it to be a very exceptional product for repairing things which cannot be fixed by welding, etc. It claims that it can be "used to rebuild or fabricate parts, (restore stripped threads) or as an all purpose adhesive for metals, wood, glass, masonry, ceramics, and many plastics. Makes underwater repairs..."

I bought this product at my friendly neighborhood plumbing store. What's particularly cool is that there is no mixing--you just cut off a little bit from the end of the "roll", then knead with your fingers until the white center and the grey outside are thoroughly mixed. It hardens in twenty minutes "as hard as steel"

If you can't find it, here's the manufacturer's address:

William H. Harvey Company Omaha, Nebraska 68117

It has worked amazingly well for me in the past; I just never noticed that it says it is "Safe for lines carrying potable water".

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), July 17, 1999

Answers

Ya gotta love Doomer logic. For the last year, all we heard from said Doomers was how bad it was going to be in April and July. The stock market will crash - people will start to panic, no one will be able to ignore it. Specific and definitive dates and actions were postulated. When nothing happened, these same Doomers have backped aled so fast they got whiplash. Are there no Doomers who will step forward and admit they were wrong? Anyone? April 1, 1999. On this date, Canada, Japan, and the State of New York begin their fiscal year. This will, of course, include dates beyond Y2K. As a result, planning systems, especially budgets that have not been repaired will fail as they attempt to process Y2K dates. Since New York City is the media capitol of the world, problems there will grab headlines worldwide. Problems in Japan will remind everyone again of how interconnected our world is. The Japanese will also be forced to admit that there systems might not make it. I expect the stock market to react and begin (or continue) its downward spiral. Public confidence will continue to wane and the number of Y2K optimists will continue to dwindle.

July 1, 1999. On this date, forty-four U.S. states begin their fiscal years. The problems that began in New York will now spread exponentially across the country and around the world. The public will feel the global and pervasive nature of the Y2K Problem for the first time. This will be further exacerbated by the fact that many states have not had the resources to adequately address their Millennium Bug problems. Consequently, the failures will be real and widespread.

From the 12 Oct 1998 issue of Westergaard - Michael Hyatt

-- Y2K Pro (2@641.com), July 17, 1999.

Getting back to the original post, there is a silicone-based aquarium cement that applies easily, cures in 24 hours at most, and is safe for use in fish tanks. It comes in black, white and clear; I would use only the clear version. I figure if tropical fish can live with it, it's not likely to hurt the food. Should be available at any good pet store that carries aquarium supplies.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), July 17, 1999.

GE Silicone Rubber uses a different catalyst than Dow Corning. Dow uses acetic acid which is totally safe. Both catalysts evaperate out of the the joint within 24 hours or so of application. Omega Aquariums usees Dow exclusively. So IMHO, Dow's is preferable for potable water, while GE is better in areas that are exposed to the elements. We use both on our yacht - Dow to repair leaks in water tanks etc., and GE on deck where it seems to last longer.

-- elskon (Elskon@bigfoot.com), July 18, 1999.