I think, in the U.S. now a days, the connection between the electrical ground and water system is no longer used. I was under the imression that the electrical safety ground should be tied only to the ground rod that's directly below the meter box.
What I remember being very surprised at when we visited england in 1973, was the light wire they could use in appliance cords. Gaads I saw lamps wired with what I'd call bell wire. Of course the current requirements being half of what is usual here made the difference. I don't remember switches at outlets but may have forgotten. Except for the coin operated meters in cheap hotel rooms that is. Tom s
