What are everybody's thoughts about "purified water"?

[jackcorbett 2]

First step for a newcomer in Pattaya is to get these little bottles of water in his hotel or guesthouse or at the Seven Elevens and Family Marts. And then it's the larger bottles that are around one gallon. Recently I bought one of the large bottles that holds close to 5 gallons which my gf and I take back to the condo on the motorbike. So far there is no system in place to have drinking water delivered to the condo and it looks like that is going to take awhile due to lack of storage space for the large bottles and other reasons. So I'm thinking about doing something to purify the water out of the tap. At places like Carre Four one can get those filtering systems that consist of two water filters. They really are not that expensive and both my Thai gf and Anne who owns the massage place and Nitnoi Bar recommend these setups. But an English pal of mine who's been here for over 12 years thinks the water from the filters won't cut it whereas a reverse osmosis setup would. I"m not sure what a reverse osmosis setup would cost but I think it's quite a bit higher than the filtering systems sold in Carre Four, Big C, etc. Trucking these five gallon jugs on the motorbike is getting to be a bit of an inconvenience although buying this way costs just a fraction of what one gallon bottles cost at Family Mart and Seven Eleven. What are your thoughts on the subject?

Edited August 28, 2006 by jackcorbett

[iceice 1]

i always drink bottled water,,,i need a drink .when i wake up or chocalate milk

[piero 1]

If you are lucky, maybe you will found one of those machine for water near your condo.

[Eneukman 1]

One of the owners of Pattaya International Hospital has stated at the Pattaya Ex-Pats Club that the overall quality of the water in Pattaya is good. I have started using tap water to rinse my mouth out after brusing my teeth and so far have suffered no ill effects.

 

Not having my own transport, I just buy a 6 litre bottle whenever I need to top up my supply.

 

Alan

[Big Chief 0]

Those cheap filters are shite! I wouldn't recommend them. Reverse osmosis or nothng. I buy by the 5 gallon. I also use tap water for rinsing. The tap water in Bangkok is supposed to meet USA health standards? Or so they say?

[jackcorbett 2]

One of the owners of Pattaya International Hospital has stated at the Pattaya Ex-Pats Club that the overall quality of the water in Pattaya is good. I have started using tap water to rinse my mouth out after brusing my teeth and so far have suffered no ill effects.

 

Not having my own transport, I just buy a 6 litre bottle whenever I need to top up my supply.

 

Alan

 

Alan.....the owner of the Pattaya International Hospital was sitting next to me that day he spoke at the expats meeting. I found what he said to be ambiguous on this subject. I might be wrong, but the way I took it, was he meant his statement about Pattaya's water to be tongue in cheek......that is, a lot of the water being sold as "pure water" is just as pure as Pattaya's City Water (meaning he's sure some of it no more than Pattaya's City water which obviously is unpure).

Edited September 2, 2006 by jackcorbett

[Emil 0]

Jack,

 

Your probably out of the range of Carrefour, but check with the Lotus Tesco up on Pattaya Nua, to see if they provide free delivery. Carrefour does if you purchase is at least 1000 baht and your within I think 5 Ks.

[picoman 1]

I only drink... and bathe....... in Perrier... and I'm worth it...

[Trvlr 50]

I have read and heard many different opinions on water supplies in foreign lands. One report, which I think quoted a CDC (the U.S. health agency) expert said that in general municipal water in most places is okay, otherwise local people would get sick too. I tend to believe this. Though you have to be careful of the delivery system in the place you are staying. In some countries municipal water is stored locally in tanks in every house, and then distributed to residents, and can get seriously contaminated in this process.

Another theory I read is that if you use faucet (tap) water for brushing your teeth, and do not get sick, then the water is safe. In 20 years or so of visiting Thailand I have always used tap water for brushing teetch, and it has never made me sick (Bangkok and Pattaya). However, I am not entirely comfortable with this theory, and buy purified water for drinking purposes. But I wash my fruit in tap water, use it to make tea and coffee, with no ill effects.

I have had serious stomach issues only twice in all these years of visiting Thailand - once in Bangkok after eating a cold salad at a top-rated restaurant; the second time (and not so serious) in Pattaya from causes I could not pinpoint.

To sum up: it is good to take reasonable precautions, but Pattaya water is generally okay.

As for stomach ailments that some tourists suffer, it could be from various causes. Note that it is a fact that while some Americans who visit Mexico get "Montezuma's revenge", Mexicans who visit the U.S. often get the same stomach ailments!

[dotcom_OD 0]

The water is quite safe in Pattaya. I do brush my teeth and clean fruit etc. with the regular tap water, not to worry.

 

I do buy mineral water, not distilled water to drink. There is a difference. Read labels if you are unsure, or ask a thai to read the label for you.

[too_mutt 10]

Alan.....the owner of the Pattaya International Hospital was sitting next to me that day he spoke at the expats meeting. I found what he said to be ambiguous on this subject. I might be wrong, but the way I took it, was he meant his statement about Pattaya's water to be tongue in cheek......that is, a lot of the water being sold as "pure water" is just as pure as Pattaya's City Water (meaning he's sure some of it no more than Pattaya's City water which obviously is unpure).

Wow! Sounds like there isn't a good option here. I usually drink the bottled water in Pattaya, as I think my odds are better with it.

 

Regards

[rascall 130]

The water in the cloudy white bottles never taste as nice but are the cheapest. Dont know how pure they are.

[biggles 509]

I have been in pattaya for three years now and never had a problem with the local water. I have a fridge that has an iced water dispenser in the door and I fill it from the tap. Always cleaned my teeth with the tap water. I do have bottled water when out at restaurants, however.

[BigDUSA 71]

Jack,

 

The two or three tank water filter I recommended to you when we were in Carrfour will take care of your needs as long as you change out the filters twice a year. These units work well and are cheap and efficient. We used water filters that were similar when I was stationed in Vietnam with the US Army and not once did a water quality test come back positive during the time I did the testing. I use these filters at home in the US and will use them when we move to LOS in the near future.

 

Sgt BigDUSA

Preventive Medicine Branch

US Army Medical Corps