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boiled tap water vs bottled water

 
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jaytee8432



Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:22 pm    Post subject: boiled tap water vs bottled water Reply with quote

I've seen a number of threads similar to this saying that boiled is safe to drink but I'm more interested in what's better for you. I've been back in Korea for 6 months and I use boiled bottled water for my coffee and bottled water for my rice cooker. I know that it's safe to use tap water in these situations but am I sacrificing any health issues, kind of like how mcdonalds is safe to eat but not good for you? I'm trying to be a bit more healthy these days. Thanks
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's safe to drink even if you don't boil it.
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wings



Joined: 09 Nov 2006

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 9:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are no health benefits to drinking bottled water over tap water, unless you live in a country where tap water is contaminated and unsafe to drink, or if you are shelling out to buy water from special springs with higher mineral content. Quite often bottled water is the same water that comes out of your tap. If you're worried about contamination from old pipes (a common ex-pat concern in Korea), or if you are more concerned with taste, then you can use a simple carbon filter (like a Brita).
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Ranman



Joined: 18 Aug 2012

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's no danger in drinking the tap water in Korea regardless...
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Swampfox10mm



Joined: 24 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just buy one of those Britta contraptions if you don't want bottled.
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Squire



Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been drinking the tap water for almost a year now with no issues. Prior to that I could very rarely be bothered boiling water to drink it or adding to the weight of my shopping with something as boring as water, so I never drank cold drinks at home
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jaytee8432



Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 7:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

okay thanks for the info. first step, will stop using bottled water in my coffee and rice cooker. Next step, I will get one of those filters or i might just go cold turkey and drink the tap water. BTW, why do so many foreigners only drink bottled?
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lemak



Joined: 02 Jan 2011

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jaytee8432 wrote:
BTW, why do so many foreigners only drink bottled?


Chlorine taste is too strong. When I first arrived in Korea it definitely *wasn't* okay to drink the tap water...then they said it's maybe okay, but random people still kept getting sick. Not sure of the status now, but I can afford 15 bucks a month to drink better tasting water and not have to fear diseases.
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wings



Joined: 09 Nov 2006

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
why do so many foreigners only drink bottled?


Paranoia, brainwashing and fear mongering from North American media.
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Unposter



Joined: 04 Jun 2006

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have you seen Arisu or "beautiful water?" That is Seoul tap water. The Seoul government has been promoting the drinking of tap water for some time.

Of course, it does not impress my wife. Filter and then boil away... But, if you believe the government, then yes, it is perfectly fine for you.
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cj1976



Joined: 26 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I rent a water cooler. It is hooked directly into the water main in my kitchen and has a large electronic filter inside. It also has a hot tap so you can have boiling water when you need. You know the type of machines that all offices have. Anyway, costs around 20,000 per month.
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atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Koreans,not just foreigners, don't drink the tap water. People used to (and many still do) boil it up into barley tea, others hike up a nearby mountain to get the yak su and a whole bunch of people buy trunkloads of bottled water at Costco and elsewhere. And all those water filters they advertise on TV aren't being marketed to just foreigners.

The water is safe to drink but many don't trust the government, don't like the taste, or live where the water tanks aren't cleaned regularly. And then there's always habit.
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jvalmer



Joined: 06 Jun 2003

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wings wrote:
Quote:
why do so many foreigners only drink bottled?

Paranoia, brainwashing and fear mongering from North American media.

The reason I don't trust tap water anywhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkerton_Tragedy

Then I came back to Alberta, and what do you know, another scandal in my home province. Then there are those bi-annual boil-water advisories in the little suburb I used to live in. But say you don't get the phone message on time and go straight to the tap...
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