30% of Drinking Water Fails Quality Standards

Wanarapa Boonsu 12.04.2011 04:36

Heavy metals and other contaminants have been found in water samples taken from vending machines and bottled water.

Only 70 per cent of bottled water and drinking water from vending machines passes quality standards set by the Department of Health, director general Dr Somyos Deerasamee has revealed.

"The problem lies with contamination. Contaminants include heavy metals and bacteria," he said.

Contaminated water causes various diseases including diarrhoea and typhoid, he said.

Even more alarming was the fact that only 40 per cent of water from water utility services, artesian wells, rain and shallow wells passed the department's quality requirements.

Somyos advised people to boil or add an appropriate amount of chlorine to water before drinking it. "Keep drinking water in clean containers. If the containers are large, you still have to clean them every six months."

He said people who use water purifiers should regularly replace the filters.

The safest way to ensure your bottled water is up to standard is to stick to products certified by the Food and Drug Administration.