Water purification machines, do you trust them?

[Don Chance]

I heard they are 40% faulty with bacteria in an old news article.  I notice that the tap water smells a bit like chlorine here. So i am thinking that the water machine might be ok?  The one i see on the corner looks rather old, it is from of laundry coin mart that looks really old too, complete with the old lady who runs it. Should i take a chance? I need about 6 liters a day.

Edited January 28, 2023 by Don Chance

[ozimoron]

5 litres of bottled water from 7-11 costs 39 baht for their own brand. I prefer to do that rather than refill from those machines.

[CharlieH]

No ! There is no incentive whatsoever to spend money for most to change the filter.

I would NEVER use one when you can buy bottled water so cheaply.

 

Makro 6ltr 29 bht !

Local supplier do a 20ltr bottle for around 20 bht.

[proton]

Mrs does not even trust the one in the house (Pure brand), cost over 8k and we still have to buy bottled!

[scubascuba3]

Depends on the machine i use 1 baht water machines. If you see others using the machine then go for it.

 

Not sure I'd trust bottled water from water delivery companies, no gaurantees they're cleaned and new filters used on time

Edited January 28, 2023 by scubascuba3

[worgeordie]

You would be taking a chance Don ...highly doubt they would change the

filters ,UV lights or R.O. filters at recommended intervals. it would cut into

the profits .

 

regards Worgeordie 

[ezzra]

If you 'hear' too much and worry too much what you eat and drink in Thailand you'll never eat or drink anything, i have been using the three stages filtering system you buy at HomPro for 1,200 baht and never looked back for 30 years now..

 

[Don Chance]

I got the 20 L clear blue water tank. It was 50 baht for the bottle and 50 for the water. It is not clear if he will refund the 50 when i leave and return the bottle.

My arms really are sore now carrying the thing all the way home . Worst part is that the first gulp tasted like plastic. That clear blue is not food grade.  I had a bad experience with these refillable jugs in India because people just use them for other things like transporting diesel fuel and then return them.

Better stick with 7-11 or get a filter system.

[KC 71]

Our family have one next door.

We have been using that for 3 yrs now.

i havnt looked at it yet ????

[Don Chance]

This is going to be it!

About this item

• Steripen ultra-violet lamp destroys over 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and protozoa
• Ultralight UV purifier quickly purifies 1.0L of water in only 90 secs
• Easy to use, one-button operation provides 8,000 treatments producing up to 8,000 L of purified water
• Compact, lightweight at only 2.6 oz
• Ultralight UV purifier can be recharged using its USB port

[Ohyesuare]

In my condo, the water machines have a red light that goes on automatically and it stops accepting coins once it's time to change the filter, clean the machine etc.. I've been using them for awhile and feel no ill effects.

[Dan747]

I have no problem with one I use here in Ubon off highway 2050 10 klicks from. "GOOD LUCK!"

[LALes]

I've been using the reverse osmosis machine outside my condo lobby for 15 years with no problem.  Jomtien.

 

My condo in BKK has the exact same machine and no problems there, either.

[itsallmine68]

On 1/28/2023 at 1:38 PM, ozimoron said:

5 litres of bottled water from 7-11 costs 39 baht for their own brand. I prefer to do that rather than refill from those machines.

And how do you get a guarantee that bottled water is ok?

 

[JBChiangRai]

The nature of filters in water machines, especially RO filters, is that as time goes on their ability to filter out impurities improves, whilst at the same time the flow rate through the filter decreases as it gets more clogged up.

 

At some point, the flow rate is so poor that it's more economical to change the filter.

 

The only filter type I would trust for drinking water is RO (reverse osmosis).

[n8sail]

I use a Mazuma 4-stage filter with UV light chamber in Na Jomtien condo, never gotten sick.   Cool thing about these is you can disassemble the cartridges and clean them yourself.  The silica sand and carbon filters can even have the medium changed in them, you can just buy bags of medium for cheap at your local home improvement store.  The Ceramic filter you just disassemble and scrub off the outside ceramic layer and reassemble.  I boil the foam sponges and cap on each end of each cartridge for a minute or two before reassembly.   Water does not smell bad for more than a few months after this maintenance.   It was about 8k baht for the system.   Changing all cartridges, if you can even find them, would be about 2k baht.   We have great water pressure and after 6 months the filter definitely starts to slow down, but works perfectly after cleaning.

 

At work I use a Katadyn BeFree miniature filter system designed for backpacking.  There is a 'water filter' for the workers, which I'm sure is of dubious cleanliness, so I figure it's a good idea to re-filter it with the very easy to use and simple system.

 

To all here saying "Just buy plastic bottles of water", okay fine for staying a week or two or situations where nothing else is practical, but as humans we are smart enough to STOP USING ONE-TIME-USE plastics as a way to get our drinking water!

 

I make 50-100 tons of PET textiles every month, so I am plenty guilty of high plastic usage.  However, the products this cloth goes into lasts years if not decades.

Sick of all the lazy morons who just throw everything away after one time, and do this pervasively throughout their lives.

I used to have glass bottled water from Singha delivered to my house in Rayong.  Easy-peasy, only plastic is the seal on the cap.  Aluminium cap can easily be recycled.

 

I have an Aussie friend living in Rayong for a few decades, old fellah, drinks straight from the tap, always has.  Never gets sick.   It's all what your body is used to.

[hotchilli]

On 1/28/2023 at 1:39 PM, CharlieH said:

No ! There is no incentive whatsoever to spend money for most to change the filter.

I would NEVER use one when you can buy bottled water so cheaply.

 

Makro 6ltr 29 bht !

Local supplier do a 20ltr bottle for around 20 bht.

I use a machine near me for domestic  use ie cooking, I see the guy clean and service it daily.. 4 baht for 6 litres.

As for drinking water I buy it from a shop.

[Pouatchee]

I have one with 3 different filters and a UV light. We have been drinking using this device for 6 years now. You have to maintain the filters regularly, every 6 months or so. No smell nor any after taste and haven't had to buy water since then and for 7000 bht I believe this is money well spent. The brand is 'Clarte'. Easy to install and maintain. Make sure if you buy one that it has a UV light. I use a UV light on my fish pond connected after all my water filters and all the hoses are dirty with algae except the one connected to the UV light going into the fish tank. UV lights rock and are worth the investment.

 

Just read what @n8sail said after the fact and what he says about home water filters is spot on.

Edited January 31, 2023 by Pouatchee

[Dazkkk]

Had a 5 filter (inc ultra violet filter) fitted in the house over 20 years and it has worked fine provided you changed filters At recommended intervals. As to the 1b a litre ones, I’d steer well clear and buy bottled water in 7/11 it’s so cheap. 

[connda]

Reverse Osmosis with UV machines that are maintained well - yeah I trust them. 

[jcmj]

We went down to the local machine and filled a bottle just before our filter service guy came to do our house system. Our toilet water tested cleaner than the machine water. Maybe good for cooking but I’ll stick with our system. 16 years and still going strong. I’m sure some machines are better than others but it’s just a risk I’m not willing to take. 

[Aussieroaming]

I use the one I installed and change the filter regularly. Between initial cost and filter costs it was probably more expensive than buying bottled water, about 10k plus 2k per filter change.

 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

Or 'PURE' 2 stage didn't do much.

... "2-pipe 2-stage pure water filter, economical price (1 year warranty)
• Filters 99.99% of germs with a 0.3 micron fine
filter • Filters odor, color, chlorine and carcinogenic substances"

 

1) 0.3 micron polyethylene filter (PE Filter)

2) Active Carbon Filter (AC Filter)

 

PPM pen measured about 170ppm going in 

and measured about 170ppm coming out ????????????????

 

Tasted fine, no chlorine test/smell, when somedays it was very strong if unfiltered.

 

We use it now, to filter the rain water.  Taste & looks better.  PPM always <10

[thecyclist]

I avoid the old looking ones. Problem is these machines seem to be out of fashion. Very few new ones around. 

[digger70]

5 hours ago, itsallmine68 said:

And how do you get a guarantee that bottled water is ok?

 

There's nothing in life that can be 100% guaranteed ,except one thing .That one Will Die.

[transam]

I wouldn't use one, water is so cheap, it isn't worth taking a chance with a machine that may not serviced.

Maintenance in LOS can be a bit iffy..... 

[scubascuba3]

Don't you think people should worry more about the food and drink they eat rather than 1 baht water machines?

[The Theory]

Osmosis filter, with UV lamp it's even better. Otherwise buy bottles. 

[mstevens]

I bite the bullet and buy the large bottles of Aura brand water. It's a little dearer than other brands but we're only talking a few baht which is worth it. Second choice is Minere brand. These are both mineral water which is worth consumuing in a hot country like Thailand. If you spend much time outside and sweat a lot you lose minerals and electrolytes. Mineral water helps to replenish lost minerals and electrolytes.

[Tropposurfer]

I used a mom n pop corner shop machine for a year before moving into my home with my big 4 litre bottles - I asked my well educated Thai condo manager back then where close by was a safe machine to grab my water from.

Water was perfect every time.

If you have a car then you can go fill up a bunch of large bottles and store in dark cool place so you always have a supply.

Drink art least 3 to 4 litres of water a day here cause its hot n you will dehydrate much faster than you would in Europe.

 

We have a 'Purensafe' German, built-in 6 stage home system throughout the house which is computer monitored and checked so guaranteed to be impossible to get any, any contamination in the water.

The system has failsafes beyond belief so if at any stage the system drops below safety parameters it won't dispense a drop. Its even got a cool app that gives heads-up on performance which we can look at anytime, with service period and warnings if system is compromised. The pool has its own 4 stage system. 

Cost a penny but the water is delicious to drink. It tastes even better when we carbonate it! 

We see it as a good investment in health and I imagine as the years pass and the worlds water gets harder to get and dirtier if I want to see the house it will add to the appeal for any Westerners who might be in the market for a palace.

We have big underground tanks for rainwater catchment, so we take very little from the mains.

Its wonderful to just turn on the tap clean your teeth, wash your face, shower without having to make sure no water enters your mouth or if anything is going to enter through your eyes into your body (yes there are such gremlins! which can mess ya' up big-time apart from the rather mild Cryptosporidium & Giardia, stuff like Ecoli bacteria and other nasty micro-organisms.