Filter vs. bottled water vs. UV purification (Bangkok, Pattaya)

[Cerebrum]

Hello,

I'm considering buying a portable filter like the sawyer https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-squeeze-filter-system-sp131/ as opposed to buying bottled water while staying in Bangkok and Pattaya.

Alternatively I could buy a portable UV water cleaner e.g. http://shop.camelbak.com/all-clear-bottle/d/1208.

What concerns the filter I read that Bangkok water is often contaminated with heavy metals and that no filter is good enough to clean that. Therefore bottled water is the only option.

The last time I went to Thailand I used to buy bottled water, but it is a constant hassle.

Grateful for any comments.

[KittenKong]

Buying bottles of water, even 5lit bottles, in the supermarket or 7/11 works out expensive over time, not to mention very tedious to carry around as you say.

So I started using the filtered water vending machine in the lobby of our building. This seemed fine for a while but once I became a committee member I realised that there was no real monitoring of how often the machines are inspected and parts changed (for that matter there is no real monitoring of the takings, but that's another story).

So now I get the large transparent blue bottles (25lit?) delivered to my condo. 40B + tip = 50B each. I have two which leaves me one in reserve, and when I call they recognise my number and generally deliver within 24 hours, often the same day.

OK, this is double the cost of the water from the machine (1B/lit) but the water tastes much better and it saves a lot of messing about.

[kannot]

Buying bottles of water, even 5lit bottles, in the supermarket or 7/11 works out expensive over time, not to mention very tedious to carry around as you say.

So I started using the filtered water vending machine in the lobby of our building. This seemed fine for a while but once I became a committee member I realised that there was no real monitoring of how often the machines are inspected and parts changed (for that matter there is no real monitoring of the takings, but that's another story).

So now I get the large transparent blue bottles (25lit?) delivered to my condo. 40B + tip = 50B each. I have two which leaves me one in reserve, and when I call they recognise my number and generally deliver within 24 hours, often the same day.

OK, this is double the cost of the water from the machine (1B/lit) but the water tastes much better and it saves a lot of messing about.

But youve never had it tested and dont know what or where it cones from so it could have "anything" in it.

"tatses better" is meaningless without a test.

I drilled a borehole and got it independently tested..............although I assume you cant do that where you or he/she is.

Result clean as a whistle, drinkable

Cost hmm well 150k for 2 boreholes 85 metres deep

[KittenKong]

OK, this is double the cost of the water from the machine (1B/lit) but the water tastes much better and it saves a lot of messing about.

But youve never had it tested and dont know what or where it cones from so it could have "anything" in it.

"tatses better" is meaningless without a test.

I drilled a borehole and got it independently tested..............although I assume you cant do that where you or he/she is.

Result clean as a whistle, drinkable

Cost hmm well 150k for 2 boreholes 85 metres deep

Yes. I'll be sure to ask my condo office if they would mind me drilling a couple of boreholes down through the building.

Where I am the only options are bottled water and filters, of one type or another. So I make my choice out of those.

[Thian]

Even out of borehole there still can grow bacterials in it, the gecko might shit in it or anything can happen.

Best is a good filter with UV light but they don't come cheap, those lightbulbs don't last very long and cost a lot.

Those 25l bottles are heavy, i 'm glad we don't use them anymore.

[Artisi]

Even out of borehole there still can grow bacterials in it, the gecko might shit in it or anything can happen.

Best is a good filter with UV light but they don't come cheap, those lightbulbs don't last very long and cost a lot.

Those 25l bottles are heavy, i 'm glad we don't use them anymore.

The good quality 3 or 4 stage filter with UV lamp are a good investment. I change the filters about every 10 / 12 months and the UV is rated for 5 years, which is a fairly useless number - it will depend on usage - so far the lamp in my unit has been in use for 3 years - I probably average about 6 / 7 litres per day thru the unit. I might add that I think the town water is of reasonable quality which will help extend the life of the filters - my holding tank is still very clean after 3 + years - all the water for the house, garden etc goes thru' the tank.

Thain. If a gecko can shit in a well, it is not correctly installed and capped meaning that any contaminates at surface level can find its way into the water supply. A correctly drilled and installed well is not just simply drilling a hole and shoving a pump down it - although I think that is probably standard (incorrect) Thai practice.

[Thian]

Well i think it doesn't matter how much water you use for the UV-light. My light is always burning inside the filter (i guess). No matter how much water flows through it just burns.

But our UV-light lasted from the floodings untill 5 months ago....so about 3 years...The shop told us that it lasted really long in our house because normally it burns out after a year or so.

And the filters should be changed each 6 months or so if i remember well. We do it when the water starts smelling.

I think the best way is to use the filter right before the tap you use to fill your glass. Ours is before the fridge with icemaker and waterdispenser. So in the fridge/freezer we still can have bacterials growing.

But gecko's shit everywhere here, i opened the coffee machine and one came running out. We keep the cups and glasses upside down though.

Also i never looked into our watertank and even don't want to know what's inside. It's a disgusting system anyway for Europeans like me. A tank in full sun connected with plastic pipes and cheap quality taps made of who knows what material.

I brush my teeth with normal tapwater but know thai who use bottled water for that.