Taiwan Water: June 7, 2008: Tap water is equal to bottled water.

Although a common theme in the developed world, it's interesting that in Taiwan we are now seeing a discussion about the merits of tap versus bottled water. It implies many things about the level of development.

Peter Huston
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http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2008/06/07/159898/Tap-water.htm


Saturday, June 7, 2008

Tap water may be safer, consumer group reports

By Dimitri Bruyas, The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Bottled water is often touted as pure and healthy, but it may not be safer than ordinary tap water, according to a new comparative study conducted by a local consumers' protection group.

Based on analysis of 16 different brands of bottled water and 12 samples of tap water from various districts in Taipei City area, the Consumers' Foundation (CF) put forward the idea that the Taiwan public ingests more tap water as it is not only cheaper but also healthier.

"The quality of tap water (in Taipei City) is good and stable with ideal pH... it is safe for people to drink," said Gaston Wu, a chemistry professor at National Taiwan Normal University, who conducted the tests in cooperation with the foundation.

Wu explained that two bottled water samples were below standards in terms of either indication or packing; while another was found to contain unsafe levels of ammonia nitrogen.

Low-level ammonia nitrogen may be present in water naturally as a result of the biological decay of plant and animal matter, but higher concentrations may be the result of contamination, he added.

Also, Hsieh Tien-jen, vice chairman of the CF, noted that top water costs NT$ 0.013 per liter, compared with bottled water, which costs anything from NT$5 to NT$110 per liter.

"Cheaper tap water is not necessarily worse... and tap water is more environmentally friendly," Hsieh stressed.