Vending water not up to standards: Health Dept

[Admin]

Vending water not up to standards: Health Dept
By The Nation
2011-03-24

Only 70 per cent of bottled water and drinking water from vending machines has passed quality standards set by the Department of Health, directorgeneral Dr Somyos Deerasamee said yesterday.

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

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

Only 40 per cent of water from waterutility services, artesian wells, rain and shallow wells passed the department's quality requirements, he said.

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.

"Regarding bottled water, please stick to products certified by the Food and Drug Administration," Somyos said.