Job Discussion Forums

[SheikItUp]

Every hotel in Bangkok (Novotel Siam Square, Pathumwan Princess, and Princeton Park Suites in Din Daeng) that I have called and asked seems to be "tight lipped" about the safety of the water!...I don't drink tap water ANYWHERE I go...but when I ask, "Is the water safe to brush my teeth with?" the reception desk staff's reply is, "Um...well, we provide free bottled water for all of our guests...." 3 attempts to get a straight answer, and not one! So what's the deal with the tap water? Can ya brush your teeth and wash your face with it or not...haha! ...also, has anyone stayed at any of these hotels? Have any warnings? Thanks!

[tedkarma]

I think you'll find that most people use the tap water for brushing their teeth and bathing with no problem. I do.

Perhaps they are not quite so "tight lipped" as they are not quite sure what your concern is.

Don't forget that many people you are talking to are not particularly skilled in English - and are trying to place your question within the context of what most travelers ask them - and perhaps are really trying to answer your question.

[kenkannif]

Bangkok's water is supposed to be drinkable and passes 'international' standards....I don't though (but have with no ill effects) as we've got a water purifier (that my wife probably hasn't cleaned for like 5 years).

But it's not like Egypt or Spain (back in the day) where the water would make you ill....but then water is so cheap to buy here it's not really worth the risk.

[stilloutthere]

The water in those bottles you buy in the shop is Bangkok tap water. One of the first times I was in Thailand, there was a front page article in the Bangkok Post about the new government regulations about labels on bottled water. Companies were no longer allowed to put 'Mineral Water' on plain drinking water, plain drinking water being Bangkok tap water. I think the tap water in much of Thailand is safe.

Also, if you can't drink it, you can't brush with it. You really can't spit out all the water you use when you brush, and all it takes is one little bug. I experimented with this recently here in Ecuador. If you can't drink it, you can't brush with it. And be careful not to let water run in your mouth when you shower when you are someplace where the water really isn't safe.

Hotels are notoriously cautious about drinking water because they are worried someone will blame them for something they got from a dodgy street vendor and tell everyone about it. In Cancun, where the water is safe, all the big hotels offer separate drinking water, just to keep from being blamed for illnesses.

[kenkannif]

^ I don't know mate I've regularly cleaned my teeth in water that was definitely undrinkable (Egypt, Spain, Israel, places here) and never had a problem getting ill.

I mean you can shower and clean your teeth with sea water with no ill effects, but you can't drink it.

[tedkarma]

Ditto on Ken here.

I suspect there is a big difference between the amount of bacteria in a mouth rinse and that in a liter of ingested tap water. One, no problem, the other - enough to bring on a major problem.

One place where I wouldn't rinse and brush - India.

But, I too (like my hero Ken!) have had no problem in many countries - using tap water to brush and rinse - where I wouldn't drink the water. Mexico is one.

BTW, the issue isn't always bacteria - sometimes, in countries like Korea - for example - the problem is industrial pollutants like heavy metals and chemicals in the water. A small is amount is no problem - a lot - might make you mutate . . .

[kenkannif]

Thanks! Also a lot of places (like my house and where I work) have water purifiers...thing is they're like cleaned once every 5 years (if at all).


I can however say from personal experience DO NOT drink from the river Nile you WILL be very ill! I was young.