What adverse effect can very cold tap water have on cockles during the cleansing bath?
Answer
It might shock the muscles into closing tightly, preventing the desired purging action.
Water temperature plays a significant role in the success of the cleansing soak. While the water should generally be cold, introducing water that is excessively cold, such as straight from a winter tap, can be detrimental. This sudden temperature drop can shock the musculature of the cockles, causing them to clamp their shells tightly shut. When the shells are sealed due to shock, the shellfish cannot filter or expel the internal sediment, completely undermining the purpose of the soaking technique.

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