Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kayakorea2]

I have been drinking Seoul tap water without boiling but running it through a Britta for a couple of years now and don't think I've ever been sick from the water.

I wonder if anyone has any hard facts about the safety of this practice. I know lots of folks will be tempted to write in with scary advice about rumors they've heard about the nasty water here. I'm aware of all of that but I do hear mixed reports.

Any other Britta users? Anyone who knows better and has sound evidence that it's a bad idea?

Cheers...

[Moldy Rutabaga]

I live near Jochiwon, a ways south of Seoul out in the country, and have been using a Brita with tap water for a while. The water still doesn't taste good by itself, but isn't bad mixed with something. I have a sensitive stomach but haven't had any problem.

I suspect that bottled water isn't a great deal healthier, but you have to drink something. I would like to know how they remove the metal taste from the stuff, though.

Ken:>

[teachmeenglish]

A brita is basically a charcoal filter that pull dirt out of the water. It does NOT in any way present a barrier to particles getting through it. For that you would need a reverse osmosis filter (some water machines hooked up to the main lines are like that) or a ceramic filter like the type I use when going backcountry hiking. However, even the best barrier type filter will at most take dirt, protozoa, and bacteria out of the water, but not Viruses. To deal with viruses water needs O3, UV, chlorine or simmilar treatment. If the water is bio contaminated do NOT use a filter that does not have a barrier, and then treat it to kill viruses. If the water is bio safe, then a Brita is fine to help reduce dirt, heavy metals and other bad things that can not reproduce in your tummy. But, britta filters are useles if not changed often enouigh becuase they kind of get saturated with dirt.

As for tap water, it is charcoal filtered and chlorinated in Seoul and I assume everywhere else in Korea. Seouls water intake was at one point near Amsa dong in the Han (and london's was in the Themes ), but not sure of that anymore, yet people were not dying. Although I drink bottled water to reduce the amount of heavy metals and other such pollutents in my diet, I would feel safe drinking tap water on at least an occasional basis anywhere in Korea. My gut feelign is that tap water is bio safe in Korea, so a britta is fine.

[Col.Brandon]

The pipes are crap here. All kinds of stuff gets leeched into your water before it gets to you.

Check out these threads:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=43755&highlight=water

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=42462&highlight=water

Steam distillers are the way to go.