Expert downplays health concerns over salty tap water in Bangkok

[webfact]

Expert Downplays Health Concerns Over Salty Tap Water
By Khaosod English


Officials from Provincial Waterworks Authority in Songkhla province drink tap water to assure the public of its safety, 16 September 2011

BANGKOK: -- Tap water in Bangkok might taste a bit salty at this time, but a nutrition expert said Bangkokians need not worry.

Reports of salty tap water arose in recent days. Many believe the increased level of salts might be due to the drought season or heightened sea level in the Gulf of Thailand, which situated close to the capital city.

However, President of the Nutrition Association of Thailand, Mr. Sa-Nga Damapong, advised the public to take the news with a grain of salt, since a thorough research over the issue must be conducted first before any conclusion is made.

Since the purifying system of waterwork in Bangkok is "up to standard", Mr. Sa-Nga asserted that the salty water is unlikely to cause harm to the public. The most serious effect would be merely a change in water taste, according to the expert.

While he admitted that large consumption of salt in tap water could be harmful, Mr. Sa-Nga stressed that the danger could be averted by avoiding a massive intake of salty tap water.

"In reality, no one does that anyway," Mr. Sa-Nga said.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNU1qZ3hNems1TXc9PQ==


-- Khaosod English 2014-02-20

[toonsai]

Drinking tap water in Thailand!??!?! Since when it is safe? RIP guys

[thesetat2013]

Noone does that but some may use that water for drinking in other ways. I guess its time to switch to bottled water for my coffee in the morning heehee

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[londonthai]

I do drink tap water, after running it through filter

water might be salty at some water stations closer to the sea, but not upstreem

[chooka]

There is absolutely no way I would drink tap water in Thailand.

[Davidhere]

Sodium in water?

Gee, that's like free Gatorade from your tap.

Terrific.

Also saves a great deal of money for those with saltwater aquariums.

[Virt]

It's pretty weird.

When i'm home i never appreciate the clean and tasty tap water we have here in Skandinavia, but when i'm on vacations i miss it.

Would be nice to travel anywhere without worring about the quality of the water.

How come Thailands tap water is no good?

Is it the piping systems that pollute the water on it's way to the consumer or is it the groundwater itself?

[55Jay]

Entertaining looks on their faces in the photo.

Even though nobody drinks much tap water anyway, these three poor bastards were voluntold for the confidence inspiring taste test photo op.

I would give them each 500 baht to come up to my town for a photo op sipping our slightly tea colored tap water.

[schbang]

Can't see a tap anywhere!

[55Jay]

Can't see a tap anywhere!

Might be that stainless steel thing in front of them, doubling as a spit basin soon as the photo is done.

[impulse]

Don't mean to sound like a doubting Thomas, but the facial expression of the guy on the left (with the thumbs up) is telling a very different story.

[noitom]

Brushing teeth, washing face and hair in shower, using to rinse dishes, clean vegetables. Thai official says he "down plays" any concern over salty tap water in Bangkok, but don't drink too much.

[ETatBKK]

drink tap water in Thailand - NO WAY !

really not about the taste, not even about the dust or impurity, it is the bacteria and the microbiolism living inside the water. a normal carbon filter is not appropriate in this application.

there are millions dollar water purification industries in Thailand. did these guys suggest that the industries exist for no reason, or they call everyone filter is not necessary ? check them home first !

[Cylon]

Guy with thumbs up ,looks like he just spat it out

[alfalfa19]

good one:

Mr. Sa-Nga Damapong, advised the public to take the news with a grain of salt.

[tominbkk]

I've lived here several dogs' ages and though not frequently, have many times had to drink the tap water, unfiltered. Never have had a problem. At home I have a great Korean triple filter reverse osmosis water cooler...love it!

[Blackmirage2013]

Of course the Thais will say they had planned all along to make the water salty to increase it mineral content, and that this is a clever way of enhancing the health of people in Bangkok.

No one here ever admits they are wrong. They are always twisting facts to prove that even their stupidest mistakes are actually cleverly thought up ideas.

Actual fact is that people don't think that way. We give them too much credit for ideas and thinking that is just.... stupid!

Let's take things at face value....

So.... what probably happened here is that some irresponsible, lazy person was hauling bags of corrosive chemicals designed to clean the water pumping machinery and careless tripped and dumped all the chemicals into the water supply.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Blackmirage2013

[davejones23]

It's funny that you come across so many expats in Thailand that don't drink tap water because they say it's unhealthy, but then have a junk food lunch followed by 10 beers. You have to laugh at their stupidity.

[taony]

"advised the public to take the news with a grain of salt, since a thorough research over the issue must be conducted first before any conclusion is made.

Since the purifying system of waterwork in Bangkok is "up to standard", Mr. Sa-Nga asserted that the salty water is unlikely to cause harm to the public."

=

"We don't know yet, but just keep drinking until we find out. don't worry."

[VocalNeal]

Drinking tap water in Thailand!??!?! Since when it is safe? RIP guys

Safe in Bangkok if one can smell the chlorine. Lots of people do!

[taony]

Is the chlorine the stuff left behind after the water dries off the counter?

[spirit47]

In some areas people have arsenik in the drinking water. I have two filter units, first for all water and second for drinking water...

[craigt3365]

Drinking tap water in Thailand!??!?! Since when it is safe? RIP guys

Safe in Bangkok if one can smell the chlorine. Lots of people do!

That's one reason I stopped using tap water to make my coffee when I lived in Bangkok. It just didn't taste right.

The Thai news said this was due to inferior equipment being used. As normal, they pocketed money that should have been used to buy better equipment. As reported by the Thai local news.

[toybits]

It's time to pack up and leave Bangkok. Saltwater infiltration has already started - by the looks of it....

[MMarlow]

Drinking tap water in Thailand!??!?! Since when it is safe? RIP guys

Tap water in Thailand has been safe to drink for many years.

[cheeryble]

Many opinions about what people will or will not do or how bad the water is, but none which have any evidence to convince us one way or another that there is or is not any problem with the water....

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[h90]

Drinking tap water in Thailand!??!?! Since when it is safe? RIP guys

Safe in Bangkok if one can smell the chlorine. Lots of people do!

Here we get sometimes water not smelling

Sometimes water smelling like wet land

Sometimes smelling strong chlorine stronger than a public swimmingpool in the 70s....

Drinking??????????????

[smileydude]

Why is that dude on the left squinting like that?

Is the water sour now?

or

I'm really forcing myself to drink this?

or

This tastes like sh#t.

Hopefully the added salt flavor includes iodine so at least we don't have to worry about goiter.

Edited February 20, 2014 by smileydude

[Thait Spot]

Damapong......

Now where have I heard that name before?

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[Khon Thai Ben Khon Dee]

How much do one of these experts cost?