Korean Job Discussion Forums

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Because of heavy metals in the tap water, I use bottled water for cooking and drinking....BUT today as I was filling my humidifier with tap water, I wondered about the safety of doing that. Do the metals get released into the air? Any science-types out there?

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

Well, I figure that as most *dangerous* metals are heavy metals ( Lead, mercury, etc.) they probably do not make the trip up with the lighter water molecules- instead they form a sediment or film on the inside of your humidifier. You'll be fine.

peppermint · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:04 am Post subject:

yup, just make sure to clean the filter fairly often, so they don't clog it.

JeJuJitsu · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

To be straight up, I drink the tap water- always have and I have had no problems and have actually not gotten sick in Korea. Many argue that the Koreans won;t drink the tap water, and therefore we shouldn't either, I argue that this is a modernized country with a modern water treatment system; besides Koreans are afraid of everything- fan death anyone?

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

dude, the water in seoul comes out of the han river.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Hey, I've been here nearly 10 years and haven't seen much of an improvement! (In water quality, that is....)

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Seoul tapwater stinks. Literally. Even after you run it through a purifier.

Something just not right with that.

mysteriousdeltarays · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:14 am Post subject:

The "purifiers" only remove little more than organic solvents and sediments. Unless you have an autoclave, boiling is pretty much of a stop gap measure. Iodine is pretty much of a publicity stunt from WW2 to re-assure the home front. Chlorine in any levels sufficient to actualy kill microorganisms is also not so cool on a free redical level.

Again and again I suggest that people look at the Korean Journal of Parisitology's English web page. If you can handle the jargon, the Merck Manual of Tratment And Daignosis (NOT THE HOME EDITION!) is considerd authoritative. They too are on the web.

May I suggest the section on helmenthic infestations.

Sorry about the typing. I'm in a game room with a busted up keyboard.

But then again rumor might be best.

thewhat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Seoul suburbs

I was out with some soldiers and rinsed my mouth in the bathroom. they had a fit and said they got worms from the water , someone nearly died and on and on. They thought it was funny because "im new".

I dont drink the water but I do cook with it and brush my teeth with it etc.
I dont think its made me any sicker.

dont you all brush with this water?

ive never been able to get a straight answer . Is the water safe or not?

you people ought to know

Zark · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:18 am Post subject:

Ajuma,

A good friend here in my town used to teach a hydrologist - who told him to not even drink the water from the springs in the mountains outside of town. That should be fair enough warning!

In the humidifier - probably okay. Long term for drinking and cooking - probably not a good idea.

Heavy metals was the issue, not bacteria.

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

I say, go with whatever your comfortable with. I'm from a big city in the US, but I also lived in Africa for over a year. I'm covered/screwed for heavy metals/bacteria.