Poor quality bottled water

[Grusa]

SWMBO and I make a habit of eating lunch in a certain well known food court in central Pattaya, on Mondays. We always have a bottle of "nam prao" each, 15baht the bottle. "Mi*ere" is the only brand available.

Last week, we took the remnants of the bottles home. By chance, as I was testing the water from our own RO filter, I tested the bought product. Both bottles, 280ppm, well into the red! Our own RO water, 10ppm, our own tap water - undrinkable borehole water - 270ppm.

SWMBO was afflicted with the squitters during the afternoon, but we put it down to the food.

 

This week, same routine, same bottled water from same stall. Seals intact, taste ok. Brought it home, one bottle 270ppm, the other 280 ppm, our borehole water 270ppm, our RO water, 10ppm. So far, no ill effects!

 

My question, to whom should we notify/complain about this clearly ongoing and dangerous situation, with a reasonable expectation that something effectual might be done? Not, I suspect the stallholder, not the food centre or mall management, not the corporate moguls! 

 

So who? Meantime, be careful about buying bottled drinking water, and take your own ppm meter!

Edited September 21, 2020 by Grusa

[Farma]

Your local health dept consumer protection department. They should send a team to inspect the bottling plant after a complaint.

[EricTh]

When you have opened the bottle, you should test it within half an hour.

 

Who knows what goes in after opening.

 

Some mineral water are not clean, it really depends on the brand, what's your brand? I buy Singha water and no problem with that.

 

Where did you buy the test water stuff? 

 

Edited September 21, 2020 by EricTh

[Tarteso]

Easy and cheap

 

[steven100]

hmm .... interesting. Now you could complain to the health department, however I would start with the company HQ or manufacturing factory as shown on the label of the bottle.

I would call and ask to speak to their QC manager or personnel. 

Be polite and explain your testing procedure as to how you can up with those numbers.

 See what he says and what his feedback or opinion is. 

If you get a negative response and/or no help from them then contact the health department and explain. 

The reason I say contact them first is because your curiosity may be appeased following their discussion with you.

[Grusa]

8 minutes ago, EricTh said:

When you have opened the bottle, you should test it within half an hour.

 

Who knows what goes in after opening.

 

Some mineral water are not clean, it really depends on the brand, what's your brand? I buy Singha water and no problem with that.

 

Where did you buy the test water stuff? 

 

Lazada or Ali Express. Not expensive.

[Pattaya46]

20 minutes ago, Grusa said:

// Both bottles, 280ppm, well into the red! Our own RO water, 10ppm, our own tap water - undrinkable borehole water - 270ppm. //

ppm of what ???

Nothing wrong to get drinkable water with a ppm of 270 if it's about alcanility by example. Health norme is something around 40 to 400.

Drinking nearly distilled water with ppm near zero is probably worse for your health.

 

Could be good to read the composition shown on the bottle...

[lopburi3]

12 minutes ago, EricTh said:

When you have opened the bottle, you should test it within half an hour.

 

Who knows what goes in after opening.

 

Some mineral water are not clean, it really depends on the brand, what's your brand? I buy Singha water and no problem with that.

 

Where did you buy the test water stuff? 

 

If it is mineral water the TDS should be high.  

Edited September 21, 2020 by lopburi3

[jastheace]

if you've drunk from the bottle, chances are you have contaminated it (the water) with food from yr mouth/ lips.

[lopburi3]

Unless the water bottle says it is RO processed the TDS should be about the same as tap water or even more if high mineral content.  That meter does not indicate how safe the water is - only the conductivity due to minerals and as said if not RO processed it should not be low.

[jastheace]

17 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

If it is mineral water the TDS should be high.  

yes. the brand 'mentioned' is filtered RO / UV treated. minerals added. as specified on the actual label of the product in question. high TDS would suggest you are getting what you paid for.

Edited September 21, 2020 by jastheace

[owl sees all]

OP. What about if you took the bottles home and boiled the water? Then put it in the fridge.

 

I don't know if microwaving would do the trick. Try it.

Edited September 21, 2020 by owl sees all

[Grumpy one]

Drinking water is unhealthy in many ways, just look at what goldfish do in their tank  

[ukrules]

Who knew, 'Mineral water' contains minerals and is not in fact distilled or severely filtered water ????

[Kwasaki]

Been buying big bottles of water I think 10 litres or maybe more from local suppliers for 10 years or more years exchanging the big bottle is 15 baht.

When out in a restaurant will pay 5 to 15 for a 600ml bottle. 

supply and demand. ???? 

[Aussiepeter]

I lived in LOS for years. After getting typhoid fever a third time, I asked the best GP I have ever attended (those in C Mai will know Loy Kroh clinic and, I hope he's still alive) "we get local bottled water delivered - do you think it's safe ?" to which he replied "over 75% of all bottled water sold in Thailand is unfit for human consumption." Next he said - "I sincerely hope you boil all of it" - to which I replied "I will be, from now on." He had no reason to lie, - at that time he was head of the biggest government hospital in C Mai - the clinic is/was his way of giving back to the community and, farang are welcome. Long queue, but dirt cheap. He said that "In C Mai, the bottled water companies have their own wells, but in rainy season the water table rises up and what happens is their 'safe' well is now getting ingress from the next-door neighbours' "bore-key" (septic tank), which is spilling into the water table. After learning this, we boiled all our home delivered water for the eight years we lived in Saraphi - you expats will all know the stuff that comes in re-fillable bottles in a crate. For ex-UK lads reading this - I am a big fan of "Minder" and "New Tricks" with both series starring Denis Waterman. Our water-delivery guys were forever totally 'smashed' on lao-cao' (moonshine) whenever they delivered our crates and, they reeked of it and tobacco. Which is why I nick-named the boss man "Denis" - it was always "Sawatdee Khun Denis" but, I suspect he didn't really get it. Wifey did. She translated it as "Denis," "the water man."

[ukrules]

2 minutes ago, Aussiepeter said:

I lived in LOS for years. After getting typhoid fever a third time, I asked the best GP I have ever attended (those in C Mai will know Loy Kroh clinic and, I hope he's still alive) "we get local bottled water delivered - do you think it's safe ?" to which he replied "over 75% of all bottled water sold in Thailand is unfit for human consumption." Next he said - "I sincerely hope you boil all of it" - to which I replied "I will be, from now on." He had no reason to lie, - at that time he was head of the biggest government hospital in C Mai - the clinic is/was his way of giving back to the community and, farang are welcome. Long queue, but dirt cheap. He said that "In C Mai, the bottled water companies have their own wells, but in rainy season the water table rises up and what happens is their 'safe' well is now getting ingress from the next-door neighbours' "bore-key" (septic tank), which is spilling into the water table. After learning this, we boiled all our home delivered water for the eight years we lived in Saraphi - you expats will all know the stuff that comes in re-fillable bottles in a crate. For ex-UK lads reading this - I am a big fan of "Minder" and "New Tricks" with both series starring Denis Waterman. Our water-delivery guys were forever totally 'smashed' on lao-cao' (moonshine) whenever they delivered our crates and, they reeked of it and tobacco. Which is why I nick-named the boss man "Denis" - it was always "Sawatdee Khun Denis" but, I suspect he didn't really get it. Wifey did. She translated it as "Denis," "the water man."

Interesting, are you suggesting that large companies like Nestle just pump water out of the ground and bottle it with zero treatment?

[Lacessit]

I don't care where the water comes from in Thailand, I always boil it. Tap, bottle, roadside RO, anything if I will be drinking it.

This is Thailand, the mains water contractor could have the chlorine cylinder run out, the RO machine might not have seen maintenance for years ( I've actually had algae growing in water from one ), the bottled water might simply be filled from the nearest tap, then sealed.

I've even boiled water for drinking in the USA, giardia parasite is endemic there.

I've survived in Thailand for ten years without any problem, so I think I am doing something right.

Oh, and I only drink beer or canned lemon soda at restaurants. Wouldn't touch their water with a barge pole.

 

 

[Lacessit]

40 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Interesting, are you suggesting that large companies like Nestle just pump water out of the ground and bottle it with zero treatment?

https://www.zmescience.com/science/nestle-company-pollution-children/#Nestle_and_Water

[Dumbastheycome]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't care where the water comes from in Thailand, I always boil it. Tap, bottle, roadside RO, anything if I will be drinking it.

This is Thailand, the mains water contractor could have the chlorine cylinder run out, the RO machine might not have seen maintenance for years ( I've actually had algae growing in water from one ), the bottled water might simply be filled from the nearest tap, then sealed.

I've even boiled water for drinking in the USA, giardia parasite is endemic there.

I've survived in Thailand for ten years without any problem, so I think I am doing something right.

Oh, and I only drink beer or canned lemon soda at restaurants. Wouldn't touch their water with a barge pole.

 

 

I agree about water supplied in restaurants with the exception being if in sealed bottles labelled as being from Brewery  companies.

But in general bottled water supply Companies are probably safe. That the taste is variable is a  different issue and  many people have their preferences.

If anyone has  genuine  cause  for concern it is relatively easy to report (concerns) them  to Health  Authorities and/or supply samples  for proper testing for genuinely harmful content.

 

[Dumbastheycome]

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/nestle-company-pollution-children/#Nestle_and_Water

Issues about water aside I have long refused  to purchase anything knowingly from or associated  with Nestl'e !

 

[Lacessit]

23 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

I agree about water supplied in restaurants with the exception being if in sealed bottles labelled as being from Brewery  companies.

But in general bottled water supply Companies are probably safe. That the taste is variable is a  different issue and  many people have their preferences.

If anyone has  genuine  cause  for concern it is relatively easy to report (concerns) them  to Health  Authorities and/or supply samples  for proper testing for genuinely harmful content.

 

Do you have ice with any of your drinks in a restaurant?

I find Thai beer quite drinkable. Having said that, I regard putting ice in beer as an abomination, only practised by people who have had their taste buds removed at birth.

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, Aussiepeter said:

I lived in LOS for years. After getting typhoid fever a third time, I asked the best GP I have ever attended (those in C Mai will know Loy Kroh clinic and, I hope he's still alive) "we get local bottled water delivered - do you think it's safe ?" to which he replied "over 75% of all bottled water sold in Thailand is unfit for human consumption." Next he said - "I sincerely hope you boil all of it" - to which I replied "I will be, from now on." He had no reason to lie

How very strange. I've drunk a variety of bottled water brands in Thailand and not once had any issue whatsoever.

 

I do not boil the bottled water nor do I wear a tin-foil hat whilst I drink it, yet still alive. I must be a medical marvel.

[ukrules]

42 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Issues about water aside I have long refused  to purchase anything knowingly from or associated  with Nestl'e !

 

It's all I drink, purified and then the minerals are added back in. Tasty water!

[DaRoadrunner]

Recent lab tests show my body to be full of plastic of all things.

 

BPA stands for Bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles.

 

So it is not only the water quality we have to worry about.

[Maestro]

If I understand the OP correctly he wishes to know to what regulatory agency he can notify or complain that water from one source has considerably higher ppm, respectively total dissolved solids (TDS) than water from two other sources.

 

Should the OP not first inquire what regulatory limits, if any, there are for drinking water in Thailand, both for regular water and for water labelled as mineral water?

[Maestro]

This web page gives some basic information about TDS and the classification of drinking water based on the TDS level in mg/L in Italy:

https://www.remauri.it/en/oligomineral-water/

 

<50: minimum mineralised

50–500: oligomineral

500–1,500: medium mineralised

>1500: highly mineralised

 

Looking at the bottle of Italian water on my table just now I see that it has a TDS level of 130.

[Dumbastheycome]

8 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Do you have ice with any of your drinks in a restaurant?

I find Thai beer quite drinkable. Having said that, I regard putting ice in beer as an abomination, only practised by people who have had their taste buds removed at birth.

I rarely drink beer at all but on those occasions have no problem with ice  added.

[tonray]

If you are testing mineral water...it will have dissolved solids...that's the minerals

[Lacessit]

7 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Recent lab tests show my body to be full of plastic of all things.

 

BPA stands for Bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles.

 

So it is not only the water quality we have to worry about.

I recycle my drinking water bottles. Most of the BPA that concerns you is leached out in the first bottling. If the item has been standing in the sun and getting warm, more BPA is leached out.

The amount of BPA in the water I drink from said bottles decreases with every cycle.