Public urged to lower salt intake but 'no health risk' from brackish water

By THE NATION

 

 

There is no risk to public health from consuming water whose salinity levels have shot up because of intrusion of saltwater in the city's supplies, the health authority said.

 

 

The Department of Health, however, advised caution for people in the high-risk group.

 

Concerned government agencies had earlier forecast below-average rains in Thailand during January to May.

 

The sub-par rains, together with the cold weather and low humidity, will cause a drought in some parts of the country, as well as saltwater intrusion in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

 

The department’s director-general, Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn, said that the source of the water’s salinity is sodium chloride, which is commonly known as salt.

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) specifies that tap water should contain up to 200 milligrams per litre of sodium, and up to 250 milligrams per litte of chloride.

 

“Currently, the a litte tap water includes around 100 to 150 milligrams of sodium,” the director-general said.

 

 

She explained that drinking the salty tap water only adds a small amount of sodium to the consumers bodies, and has no effect on their health. “However, the consumption of salty water possibly affects the health of those people in risky groups, such as patients with kidney disease,” she added.

 

Moreover, she advised people to lower their salt intake as tap water already has an extra amount.

 

Also, she suggested that people should avoid consuming salty food or snacks, and should drink bottled water instead of the salty one.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380148

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-05

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I wish for the department of health that the salt intake of the Thai people will be their worst concern...

It is indeed bad currently - my pumping station here in Bangkok is at at or above limit for both sodium and chloride.  Highly advise drinking RO water as that removes it - my home RO water filter system tests 29 from the tap water reading of 353 (normal about 140) for conductivity.  Real time reporting of Bangkok Water system from many areas is available from this website.

http://twqonline.mwa.co.th/EN/map.php?type=sal

 

Quote

 

Last Update 05/01/2020 09:53:00
Free Residual Chlorine	:	0.75	mg/L
Turbidity	:	0.14	NTU
Conductivity	:	417.00	µs/cm
Salinity	:	0.20	g/L
pH	:	7.20
Chloride	:	33.57	mg/L

Station detail : 591 Soi Thep Lila 1, Wang Thonglang, Bang Kapi, Bangkok 10310
Latitude : 13.766959
Longitude : 100.597634
Tel. : 02-5395954

 

 

Edited January 5, 20206 yr by lopburi3

Probably all standing around a stall buying their 10 timed fried chicken complaining about the unhealthy excess salt in the water

Didn't realise people drink water straight from the tap...........

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

my home RO water filter system

What's the best system to get lopburi3?

29 minutes ago, newatthis said:

What's the best system to get lopburi3?

The cheapest - have had 3 systems over last decade and this is the cheapest and works the best.  The same company makes larger 75 and 150 GPD but the 50 should be fine for even a large family.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ro-fastpure-50-gpd-ppf-2-rrtech-i257730162-s397229960.html?spm=a2o4m.pdp.recommendation_1.3.1cbcab93wfL13W&mp=1&scm=1007.16389.126158.0&clickTrackInfo=22904a4d-d7a4-47c2-a81a-3c8a1b89ae0f__257730162__11827__trigger2i__124572__0.66__0.65268606__0.0__0.5137211__0.029254997__0.85561156__2__null__null__null__null__null__null__

 

The joys of living on a swamp.

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Probably all standing around a stall buying their 10 timed fried chicken complaining about the unhealthy excess salt in the water

And all this whilst quaffing down their " Low Sugar "Bubble Tea

You are either being lied to or these people are very uneducated!!! Seawater is toxic to humans because your body is unable to get rid of the salt that comes from seawater. Your body normally gets rid of excess salt by having the kidneys produce urine, but it needs freshwater to dilute the salt in your body for the kidneys to work properly.

Real time (every 2 minites) monitoring here http://twqonline.mwa.co.th/EN/map.php?type=con

3 minutes ago, RBOP said:

Real time (every 2 minites) monitoring here http://twqonline.mwa.co.th/EN/map.php?type=con

Provided that in post 3 but directly reading the salinity - you can set it up to show what you want for all reporting stations at bottom left.  Very good reporting system.