Job Discussion Forums

[rupert shellgame]

Hi all, here's a question driven mostly by western over-cautiousness and paranoia--what's the deal with those water stations all over? I see people filling up big jugs. This is bordering on a stupid question--assuming it's water, why else would they be getting it there. But still, I wonder, is it safe??

[TaoyuanSteve]

The water stations typically use reverse osmosis and/ or ozone treatment to clean the water they sell. The water available from the machines at the CPC gas stations is quite good. I used to buy their water.

As for why, the word is that here tap water is not very drinkable. Visiting the local reservoir, I can understand the concern-- that's some dirty looking water. I'm told it is actually potable when it exits the treatment plant at the dam, but I wouldn't trust it without at least passing it through a multi stage filter. However, I have met one westerner who claimed to drink the water from the tap with no ill effects.

Safe? Well, I'd trust the machines at large outlets like the gas stations and would maybe be hesitant about one sitting outside of a run-down local convenience store. Bottled water isn't always what it is advertised to be, btw. There was a news piece that exposed many brands as nothing more than bottled tap water, unfiltered. Best option all round? Go to your local DIY and buy an in-home, multi-stage filtration unit. They only cost a few thousand nt.

[BigWally]

We rent a water cooler for our apartment. The RO water company delivers water to our door when we get low, and they take away the empty bottles. Its just a standard water cooler, with boiling hot, warm, and ice cold water taps. Total cost was $4000 for the rental of the unit, and 60 bottles of water. We usually go through about 4-5 per month, so the initial investment lasts for the better part of a year.

Way easier than going to the water filling stations.