There was a study a while ago that showed that the tap water in Bangkok was safer than bottled water. I knew people in BKK who drank tap water without problems. Hua Hin however is different.
If water is left in plastic bottles at high temperatures - in a car for example - the plastic secretes dangerous chemicals. The water you buy from a supermarket may have been left in a warehouse at high temperatures even though you get it from the fridge. Its better therefore to use a water filter, or during the rainy season, collect water and boil it.
Safe Tap Water
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stgrhe
- Professional
- Posts: 389
- Joined: Sat May 09, 2009 9:55 am
- Location: Hua Hin, originally from Stockholm
Rain water is not very healthy even if you boil it before consumption because it is acid. The acidity will not go away simply by boiling the water. Furthermore, rain water does not contain the minerals our body need and which we get from good water.yabz wrote:Its better therefore to use a water filter, or during the rainy season, collect water and boil it.
G.
Hi,
I wouldn't drink it, but I certainly brush my teeth with it and wash with it.
You need to build up a little resistence to the local water where ever you go (within reason... don't go flaming me! I would avoid the water water around Chenobyl). I use tap water for coffee and tea and have done so around Asia for years. Its only a light boil and probably not enough to sterilise it, but I normally find one dose of the squirts and its over when I move to a new location.
If you drink, brush teeth and wash only with bottled water you are making a rod for your own back: travel becomes difficult, life becomes difficult. On the other hand if you sample some of the local product to a small degree then you will build some resistence to local bugs.
Another point on water via reverse osmosis and distillation: I couldn't agree more with the posts on the matter above. Yes it's clean but demineralised and still entirely possible to become dehydrated while drinking it. It also drys the skin out badly. I spend 6 months a year on oil facilities where the above water is the norm and it is not healthy. Oral hydration solutions (not sports drinks) are required.
I wouldn't drink it, but I certainly brush my teeth with it and wash with it.
You need to build up a little resistence to the local water where ever you go (within reason... don't go flaming me! I would avoid the water water around Chenobyl). I use tap water for coffee and tea and have done so around Asia for years. Its only a light boil and probably not enough to sterilise it, but I normally find one dose of the squirts and its over when I move to a new location.
If you drink, brush teeth and wash only with bottled water you are making a rod for your own back: travel becomes difficult, life becomes difficult. On the other hand if you sample some of the local product to a small degree then you will build some resistence to local bugs.
Another point on water via reverse osmosis and distillation: I couldn't agree more with the posts on the matter above. Yes it's clean but demineralised and still entirely possible to become dehydrated while drinking it. It also drys the skin out badly. I spend 6 months a year on oil facilities where the above water is the norm and it is not healthy. Oral hydration solutions (not sports drinks) are required.
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HansMartin
- Professional
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:50 am
- Location: Back Home in CA
I've been reading this forum for a while, but have been too busy to post a detailed reply. As a professional water supply/wastewater treatment engineer the answer is simple "ABSOLUTELY NOT !!!" And the few times that I have drank tap water or ice chipped off a block I have paid for it.
The basic problem is inadequate wastewater treatment (see Shit Happens forum). In general wastewater treatment consists of a septic tank that discharges to a combined storm/sanitary sewer, the ground, the nearest khlong or ??. In any event the shallow groundwater is contaminated by pathogenic organisms. Groundwater wells can be readily contaminated if they are shallow, poorly consturcted (are concrete surface seals ever used?) of if a naturally occuring hydraulic pathway exists from the shallow aquifer to the deep aquifer.
However, I think the bigger problem is the fact that the existing water distribution system is compromised. In Thailand where a great deal of shallow groundwater exists, the distribution pipes are placed in this contaminated groundwater. While the systems are pressurized, there are plenty of occassions (such as opening fire hydrants) when negative pressures or vacuums can be created and groundwater brought into the distribution system. Next time you see some municiapal workers fixing a water pipe, see if they try to keep the groundwater out of if they try to disinfect their repair
Once this happens the distribution sytem is permanetly contamianted unless it is flushed and adequately disinfected.
The basic concept of water treatment is to use "multiple barriers" (i.e filtration and disinfection). So a good filter (RO is not required) and UV disinfection should be adeqaute in most cases as long as the units are maintained properly.
That being said, I still prefer the security of bottled water and beer (one DOES need minerals after all). Maybe when we live there permanently in Thailand I'll change my mind; but not now for our month long visits when we are traveling a lot.
I'm not sure that I trust the white jugs from the local water factory. I don't know the treatment processes used or how the water is handled inside the buildings. My wife's family buys them and she will drink it with no ill effeccts, but she thinks I should stay with bottled water.
Other contaminants besides pathogens have been mentioned in this forum. Heavy metals have been raised as an issue. Typically these are a minor concern except for some unusally high concentrations of naturally occuring chemicals such as arsenic or industrial pollutants which I don't think are a local issue. Iron, mangenese and hardness are also concerns; but they are more aesthetic issues than health issues.
Nitrate/nitrite contamiantion as a results of fertilizers or wastewater contamination is a health issue, but it only effects pregnant women or newborn children so they should always drink bottled water.
Organic chemical contamination can be a big issue in the industrialized West or in areas where intensive non-organic farming is practiced. If you have concerns about this add an activated carbon cannister as part of your treatment process.
So in summary, don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled water and beer
and invest in a high quality water treatment unit and MAINTAIN it.
The basic problem is inadequate wastewater treatment (see Shit Happens forum). In general wastewater treatment consists of a septic tank that discharges to a combined storm/sanitary sewer, the ground, the nearest khlong or ??. In any event the shallow groundwater is contaminated by pathogenic organisms. Groundwater wells can be readily contaminated if they are shallow, poorly consturcted (are concrete surface seals ever used?) of if a naturally occuring hydraulic pathway exists from the shallow aquifer to the deep aquifer.
However, I think the bigger problem is the fact that the existing water distribution system is compromised. In Thailand where a great deal of shallow groundwater exists, the distribution pipes are placed in this contaminated groundwater. While the systems are pressurized, there are plenty of occassions (such as opening fire hydrants) when negative pressures or vacuums can be created and groundwater brought into the distribution system. Next time you see some municiapal workers fixing a water pipe, see if they try to keep the groundwater out of if they try to disinfect their repair
Once this happens the distribution sytem is permanetly contamianted unless it is flushed and adequately disinfected.The basic concept of water treatment is to use "multiple barriers" (i.e filtration and disinfection). So a good filter (RO is not required) and UV disinfection should be adeqaute in most cases as long as the units are maintained properly.
That being said, I still prefer the security of bottled water and beer (one DOES need minerals after all). Maybe when we live there permanently in Thailand I'll change my mind; but not now for our month long visits when we are traveling a lot.
I'm not sure that I trust the white jugs from the local water factory. I don't know the treatment processes used or how the water is handled inside the buildings. My wife's family buys them and she will drink it with no ill effeccts, but she thinks I should stay with bottled water.
Other contaminants besides pathogens have been mentioned in this forum. Heavy metals have been raised as an issue. Typically these are a minor concern except for some unusally high concentrations of naturally occuring chemicals such as arsenic or industrial pollutants which I don't think are a local issue. Iron, mangenese and hardness are also concerns; but they are more aesthetic issues than health issues.
Nitrate/nitrite contamiantion as a results of fertilizers or wastewater contamination is a health issue, but it only effects pregnant women or newborn children so they should always drink bottled water.
Organic chemical contamination can be a big issue in the industrialized West or in areas where intensive non-organic farming is practiced. If you have concerns about this add an activated carbon cannister as part of your treatment process.
So in summary, don't drink the tap water. Drink bottled water and beer
and invest in a high quality water treatment unit and MAINTAIN it.