Healing Italian well water 'is toxic'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A well in northern Italy which attracts thousands of pilgrims hopeful of finding miraculous cures for their bodily ills has been condemned by the local health authority as toxic.
The supposed healing properties of the well in the village of Garlasco, near the city of Pavia, were discovered by its owner Ivo Pignotti, who is now 80. He claimed that both his father and a family friend were cured of shingles after washing in the water.
As many as 11,000 hopeful people streamed into the village last year to drink the water of the well, which is claimed to cure diseases including psoriasis and prostate illness. Mr Pignotti does not charge people for the water, but says he receives about €100 (£85) from tips every day.
But now the health authority in Pavia has carried out tests on the water which indicate it is seriously contaminated by pesticides and other chemicals and is unfit for human consumption. Its advice is to leave the water alone.
The local priest who has blessed the "miraculous" water has not yet issued a statement about the case.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments