Korean Job Discussion Forums

severine222 · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:07 am Post subject: Seoul water..

I live in Apgujeong and am pondering getting a water filter and pitcher because I drink a large auanitity of h20, and I've been buying the bottled stuff in the meantime. It costs alot!
Is the tap water safe? I've received a dizzying amount of information, so now I'm turning to Dave's ESL and its readers and contributors.. What do you think? Can I drink Seoul tap water - or will I regret it big time??

danby_ll · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

I've drunk tap water on occassion and never had any negative side effects.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Seoul city officials claim its tapwater is safe to drink. I think its a fair bet you wont get sick overnight from drinking it. However heavy metals & other contaminants might pose health risks over the longer term.

Another consideration is rust & lead contamination from older apartment plumbing. Also sometimes Seoul water just stinks & adds an off flavor to anything you prepare with it.

I'm in a rural province with ostensibly clean water but I trust the bottled stuff over plain or filtered water, & many Koreans agree with me. The big jugs delivered to your door can be reasonably economical.

Trip · Joined: 28 Dec 2008

If you rent a filter/dispenser from a company, your water will be purely filtered and taste like bottled without the plastic taste.

I recommend Woongjin. Have a Korean speaker get online and call them. You may be offered a waiver for the initial 100,000 service fee due to high competition. After that, it's 20,000 or up per month, depending on the filter or service you request.

StrayCat · Joined: 13 Apr 2007

I drink the tap water all the time.

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

My tap water leaves a red kinda dusty stain behind when it evaporates (takes a couple of days to build up... Usually found in bathroom) so no way in hell do I drink the tap water if I can avoid it...
(That said, there have been drunken mornings when I'm too hungover to run to the store Razz

)

crosbystillsstash · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

Yje govt say the tap water is safe, but they don't drink it.

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I used to buy the bottles but got sick of carrying them home. I've been drinking the tap water (in seoul) for a while now using a Brita, and so far so good.
The Brita isn't bad but it doesn't take away the taste completely. However, once the water's chilled in the fridge, you can't really taste much of a taste anyway.
On another note, there was a notice posted in my building last week saying the water supply to my building had been tested and it is okay to drink. (N.B.I live in a very new building)
So, in my opinion, no, it won't make you sick in the short term, but for long-term effects, unsure.

suadente · Joined: 27 Sep 2004

I want to get one of those water filters/coolers, but my wife swears that bacteria builds up on the tap and is thus unhealthy.

Yes, she also believes in Fan Death.

Anyways, we order water from the local grocery store. We tell them how many packs we want and give them our address every couple of weeks, and they bring them over, and even carry them upstairs.