Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oldfatfarang]

[bobbybigfoot]

I ticked "Other". I think the water is safe but I don't drink it unless I'm out of filtered water. I fill up containers at school.

On a side note, I wonder how much good these filters at my school do? Are these filters routinely changed? What do they accomplish anyhow? For all I know, these filters are just keeping tap water cold.

Further, bottled water isn't much better than tap water. So I try and keep my spending of bottled water to a minimum, hope my school filters are actually doing good and not harm, avoid tap water unless necessary, and then I forget about it.

[goniff]

I put down I'm not sure but avoid it...

Why bother with the water when the beer is so cheap?

[4567654]

they didn't say "nutrients," they said "minerals."

anyway, i've found that seoul tap water doesn't seem to quench my thirst in the same way that bottled water does. i've drunk (drank?) it straight from the tap for months.... never gotten sick.

seoul city has launched a campaign trying to get people to drink it - i'm sure poorer families do.... filters and bottled water get to be an expense, day-in, day-out.... it's called 아리수

here's the official site: http://e-arisu.seoul.go.kr/

you can even see ads on the bus about how "safe" and "trustworthy" the water is [to drink]

sometimes i get a letter in the mail with tons of chemical and "mineral" levels of the water tests, and some public water fountains even have these attached to them.... like was said above, it doesn't matter how pure and great it is at the source, after flowing through your building's decrepit pipes, it's nastified!

PS oh about koreans freaking out about you drinking it, that's just for show. they want to show that they care about your health and that you're being safe and cared-for in their country.

[young_clinton]

[DorkothyParker]

I find the taste unpleasant. I'll have it in soups and such no problem. I used to make ice cubes but, ya know, I forget and my husband seems to always remember to just buy a bag so... meh. I've boiled it for hot beverages, but I think I can taste it in weaker tea. I have also mixed it from the top with my matcha. Again, I think I can still taste it.

So I just buy the 2 or 5 liter jugs, drink from the bottle, and recycle.

I try to drink at least 4 liters of water at work (so I can use their filter) and don't drink as much water at home aside from on weekends.

[darkpoet]

I found this thread while doing research on the subject...

I usually send my tap water through a Brita before boiling it then refrigerating it... but apparently I should've been keeping my Brita in the refrigerator anyway (I have a large non-pitcher Brita)...

And anyway, this type of filter is probably the worst... I am thinking to get an on-tap filter - http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.com/water_filter_comparison.php

And you people who continue using plastic, enjoy your chemicals - http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/03/29/plastic_water_bottles#axzz0v5URiFtV

For the full Penn & Teller BS on water - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPAjUvvnIc

[Harpeau]

We use a NEXUS Bethesda water purifying system. We're happy with it. We put it on Alkaline 1 setting.

I use tap water when brushing my teeth. It's really not that bad. My buddy lived here (in Seoul) for a couple of decades and used tap water every day and never had a problem. I don't know if I would ever want to do the same.

BTW, the Penn & Teller show BS on bottle water is really funny!!

[winterfall]

the water itself is fine. the problem is the pipes. If you put a filter on your tap you can drink it straight. Or you can always boil it and make bordee cha

[northway]

[jhuntingtonus]

Well, this is about as wel divided as any issue I've seen! Perhaps the Tappers and No-Tappers should be political parties.

For the record, I've had several liters a day of the tap water since my April 2009 arrival with no KNOWN problems, so will continue. But thanks to all for your responses!

[atwood]

The water's fine here, health-wise. They even bring in FDA guys from the US to check it. But it is obviously heavily treated and thus the taste leaves something to be desired. Personally, I go the barley tea route.