The only reason I drink bottled water (30 baht for 20 .95L bottles) is because the taste is better than tap water. Nothing about "quality" or potability.

Complex subject.

All my Thai friends drink Bottle water apart from one family who have Filtration and drink filtered 'Tap' water.

I buy Minere bottle water 1.6 l bottles.

Sometimes I have a meal in a small That restaurant in my condo.

Had many a meal before it dawned on me I never saw any Big (Trade) size bottles of water.

Quick question and their water is Tap.

john

Alive and kicking.

i just froze a cup of tap water to make ice and made a lemon lime slushie with it.. hope i dont die. now its man(me) vs wild(tap water).. lol.. nothing a shot of tequilla wont cure..

'I assume the water from water banks, from the big white plastic drums delivered to homes'

These are nalgene bottles, like the cheap translucuent white bottles at shops and very unhealthy, contain lead, cadmium and other chemicals are some scientists relate them to hormonal disorders. Beside, the home delvery bottles are never cleaned properly inside.

Best are the 5 liter containers of Aura and Minere brand.

We use a PUR water canister system and it has served well here, in the US, and the PI.....

At risk of repeating myself, why don't more people invest in a simple benchtop (or fully installed) 3 stage water filter. Sediment/Carbon/Ceramic replacement filters are cheap and easily replaced at 6months and 12months for the ceramic cartridge.

Having established our mooban supply is artesian, I also installed a 1500 Baht sediment filter in the supply to tank to remove silt and heavy minerals. My underbench system produces magnificent tasting water.

Photo of manganese/iron coated pre-tank filter after 6 months>

If your supply is from a dam, a UV filter may be added to the 3 stage system.

NB: Resin filters are not recommended for drinking water, they suit washing/shower supply to soften water.