I've been in Hua Hin for almost 1 month and have always, as per general advice, refrained from "drinking" the tap water.
I do however make tea and coffee with it, having first, of course, boiled it.
Am I being irresponsible, or does anyone else out there follow this pattern?
David.
Tap water
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magobligin
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Re: Tap water
Hi David, we have also used boiled (& filtered) tap water for hot drinks for a few years now without any discernible adverse effects on our health.
Cheers
Cheers
Re: Tap water
I have a western friend who has lived here a while and drinks straight tap water claiming no ill effects, but I would not do it. I do use it in cooking where boiling is done (like pasta) but not in drinks of any kind... (bottled water for coffee and tea) don't even rinse my toothbrush in it (use a bottle in the bathroom).
We mainly use Tesco bottled water in the 6 liter bottles at 25 baht each. I drink a lot of water in this heat and to rehydrate mornings (and after drinking alcohol) so we go through about 20 6 liter bottles per month or 500 baht's worth for two people (actually, I drink most of it while the missus drinks more juices, tea, etc.). I consider that reasonable for trustworthy drinking water. I had a bad experience with the big refillable white bottles and no longer trust them.
We mainly use Tesco bottled water in the 6 liter bottles at 25 baht each. I drink a lot of water in this heat and to rehydrate mornings (and after drinking alcohol) so we go through about 20 6 liter bottles per month or 500 baht's worth for two people (actually, I drink most of it while the missus drinks more juices, tea, etc.). I consider that reasonable for trustworthy drinking water. I had a bad experience with the big refillable white bottles and no longer trust them.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tap water
I've used the vending machines that dispense alleged filtered and UV zapped water into bottles you provide. It's much cheaper than store bought water, but I wonder about the quality and safety. We've never had a problem, but I doubt there is any oversight or contols on calibrating or maintaining these machines.
Does anyone have any experience or info about this type of water machine?
Does anyone have any experience or info about this type of water machine?
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
Re: Tap water
No, but I've heard that if you reuse the same container over and over without sanitizing it some way the container itself can grow dangerous organisms.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tap water
We've always used bottles suitable for re-using. When empty, we wash and air dry. HH, you're right, we should periodically boil the bottles or soak in bleach solution. Still won't matter though if the machines dispense contaminated water.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." -Frank Sinatra
Re: Tap water
To answer the OP I use tap water for hot drinks and have never had a problem, also use it for brushing teeth, washing veg / cooking etc and seems fine.
Have recently changed and started using the Chang 0.5l glass bottles with pop caps, for drinking around the house, 2Tb each (50Tb for a crate) but there is a larger deposit initially for the glass bottles.
Have recently changed and started using the Chang 0.5l glass bottles with pop caps, for drinking around the house, 2Tb each (50Tb for a crate) but there is a larger deposit initially for the glass bottles.
Re: Tap water
Personally I disagree with general concept of bottled water, even though I realize it is necessary, at least to some extent. The amount of plastic pollution created is unbelievable? Surely we must be doing something wrong if we need to put water into bottles in Bangkok (or abroad) and then transport that water all around the country/world.
As far as the vending machines are concerned, I think you'll find the water is okay. I've also noticed that there have been quite a few set up throughout Hua-Hin that provide free drinking water.
With tap water, I think the water storage tanks are what you need to be concerned about, rather than with the council supply. Even if the council supplies pure drinking water, if it goes into a holding tank on your property, who knows what's living in there. Also, if you get water trucked in, you could contaminate your water tank as well. If our tap water was coming directly off the main supply, I would more than likely use it, but since it comes from an outside tank, we just use the big white bottles, and have not had any problems during the last 12 years or so.
As far as the vending machines are concerned, I think you'll find the water is okay. I've also noticed that there have been quite a few set up throughout Hua-Hin that provide free drinking water.
With tap water, I think the water storage tanks are what you need to be concerned about, rather than with the council supply. Even if the council supplies pure drinking water, if it goes into a holding tank on your property, who knows what's living in there. Also, if you get water trucked in, you could contaminate your water tank as well. If our tap water was coming directly off the main supply, I would more than likely use it, but since it comes from an outside tank, we just use the big white bottles, and have not had any problems during the last 12 years or so.
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Re: Tap water
Agreed; we recycle everything (plastic, paper, metal, etc.) through a Thai couple that comes and picks everything up once a week. The only thing that goes into our trash is garden and food waste. I know we could also compost that, but I can't be bothered as it goes back to the earth organically wherever they dump it anyway.The amount of plastic pollution created is unbelievable?
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tap water
We have an in-line filter before our underground tank for city water. If you saw the filter every two weeks when I clean it, you wouldn't want to drink the water. Filled with sediment, and just generally a dirty looking filter. It's a large particle filter only, so who knows what kind of bacteria, heavy metals or other nasties get through. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: Tap water
^ Exactly, boiling will kill bacteria, but will it get rid of or neutralize heavy metals or chemicals...
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tap water
prcscct wrote:We have an in-line filter before our underground tank for city water. If you saw the filter every two weeks when I clean it, you wouldn't want to drink the water. Filled with sediment, and just generally a dirty looking filter. It's a large particle filter only, so who knows what kind of bacteria, heavy metals or other nasties get through. Pete
Pete, if I may just point out, you don't stay in Hua-Hin
Jokes aside though, getting water trucked in is also a reason to never drink the water. The truck people insist they use council tap water, but even a fool can smell the difference between treated water and klong water. Besides, how on earth did we end up with shrimp in our water tank?
HHF.......I commend you for your efforts with regards to recycling, but those bottles are a burden on the environment, no matter what anyone does. The still have to be manufactured by questionable factories, transported around the country by fuel guzzling vehicles, and then the recycling process isn't very environmentally friendly either. Now I'll shut up before I get called a tree hugger.......lol.
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Re: Tap water
Too late.. Tree Hugger! 
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tap water
Thanks for all that.
Much as I suspected, the general concensus is that it is OK.
I should point out that I live in Dymchurch (inbetween Folkestone & Hastings on the Kent coast), and it's terrible trying to make a cup of tea using water straight from the tap! I use a jug water filter which needs a new filter every month or two. If I don't do that, I wind up with a scum on top of the tea. I think the tap water here, at least "looks" better than back home.
David.
Much as I suspected, the general concensus is that it is OK.
I should point out that I live in Dymchurch (inbetween Folkestone & Hastings on the Kent coast), and it's terrible trying to make a cup of tea using water straight from the tap! I use a jug water filter which needs a new filter every month or two. If I don't do that, I wind up with a scum on top of the tea. I think the tap water here, at least "looks" better than back home.
David.
Re: Tap water
Most of you already have loads water being delivered to your door free of charge, or more correctly should I say to your roofs.It's commonly known as rainwater....why waste it ?
Complexity is so simply overrated