I was always under the impression that that water has already been boiled. Perhaps they are playing it safe by doing it again. I'm not sure though. Why not just boil the water in your house if you are going to go out and buy some?

Some companies selling bottled water in the past had been busted for bottling 'bad' water and selling it as if it were special, so I think they are a little more on top of things these days.

Boiling the water will kill parasites, but won't eliminate things like minerals and heavy metals. The only way to do that would be to buy a water distiller (which evaporates the water and drips the good stuff into a bottle while everything else gets left behind. If you have ever used one, even in America you'd realize that there is a lot of stuff in the water.

I bought a dispenser and have fairly large jugs delivered to my house. It costs 2000 for the dispenser (and can heat the water, no cooling. That would cost more). It cost NT 4,500 for 50 bottles of what they said was their best stuff. I was told that the water was fine (but always pray in the back of my mind that it truly is). They deliver 3 at a time, and I call them when there is one left. This saves the pain of carting this stuff around yourself.

The dispensers with the coolers are way up there in price range. I think around $4000 to $5500.

Those water machines by the side of the road Nicholas asked about and the bottled water delivered to your house that Jazz mentioned is RO water. There's nothing in them at all. No need to boil the water.

We buy Brita water pitchers and filters when they're on sale at B&Q and simply filter the tap water. Each filter lasts two months no matter how much water you use. Never had a problem, even in Kaohsiung, nasty water capitol of the universe!

At least any problem that will show up immediately. Have you been adding weight at all, perhaps from all of the heavy metals in the water?

Yeah, I use Brita too. Have for a while. Then I boil the water and leave the lid off the kettle and continue boiling for another 2 minutes to sterilize the water and get rid of chlorine.

Really?? I thought the filters removed all that. At least that's what I read...

Brita is just a fine filter, but it was designed for the European and North American Market. Our water is already clean. The Brita only filters out dirt particles that aren't microscopic, and doesn't take out any chemicals. I Use it, but only because I bought a 10 pack of refills. I see little difference in Water Quality.

*bursts into dramatic tears*

I'm a fool! A foooooool!!!

Craporama.

What? Brita's ineffective or overhypes its claims. Gasp! :-)

Could be psychological. Who knows. I've been using one for years and I do think it helps.

Brita claims to remove the "smell and taste" of chlorine. Doesn't say it actually removes it so what the hey, a couple of extra minutes. I'm not that worried about it. Just a habit now.

Hi people

Boiling is just a traditional habit now.  Even the Chinese still do it in Canada and the water is perfectly safe.  

Water from the water stations is perfectly safe to drink as is.  The filtration system is based on carbon filters which removes pretty much 99.8% (probably even to higher standards) of all impurities.  The only problem is how often the people who own the machines change their filters.

What happens is bacteria begins to accumulate in the carbon over time thus rendering the carbon filtration system useless (...about two-three months time...for Brita systems anyways).  It's exactly the same principal that fish tank aquariums use. 

Like I said, It's pretty good setup if the carbon filter is changed regularly.  

Tap water is OK too if boiled but I'm not too sure about the heavy mineral content (if there is any and if it is a factor to worry about).

McLovin

...as for chlorine content....

if you just leave the water in the fridge or on the table without a lid the chlorine will evaporate naturally leaving you chlorine free water in the morning.

Chlorine is much like alcohol and will evaporate if left in open air.......

The refrigerator inside has a natural tendency to dehydrate foods (due to the freon gas it uses to keep the inside cool - and that's why there is a separate compartment called a "crisper" that's made for vegetables that you don't want dried out). 

Anyways, the chlorine will evaporate nicely overnight and you'll have nice cool water to drink as well...

McLovin

The last study showed that the water in Tainan is drinkable straight from the tap. So it still brings in the question of trust.
Is the tap water drinkable?
Is the water from the roadside dispensers drinkable?
Is bottled water drinkable?
Do Brita filters work?
Is the world round?

Hey!

Where did you find this out (drinkable from the tap)? I suppose anything could be drinkable with enough chlorine in it. I have drank the tap water straight from the tap with no ill effects but I'd just like to know where you got your information? Maybe I'm wasting my money on filtered water. My boys and pet weiner dog still work so I think the water is OK....

McLovin