The short answer is most likely no – you should not drink water straight from the tap in your Phuket house, condominium, or hotel room. Why is that? And is there a way you can make Phuket tap water safe to drink? First, let’s take a look at the most common sources of tap water in Phuket.
The source of tap water on Phuket is a combination of groundwater and surface water. Groundwater is extracted from wells, while surface water is collected from reservoirs and lakes. The three main water sources for municipal tap water are the Bang Wad reservoir in Krathu district, Bang Niew Dam reservoir in Thalang district and Khlong Kata in Muang Phuket.
The water drawn from these reservoirs is then treated at municipal water treatment plants before they are distributed to homes and businesses.
How is water treated at these plants?
Water treatment at municipal water treatment plants
Municipal water treatment plants use a variety of processes to remove contaminants from water. These processes include:
- Coagulation and flocculation: This process removes suspended solids from the water by adding chemicals that cause the solids to clump together.
- Sedimentation: The clumps of suspended solids are then allowed to settle to the bottom of a tank.
- Filtration: The water is then passed through filters to remove any remaining suspended solids, bacteria, and viruses.
- Disinfection: The water is then disinfected to kill any remaining bacteria and viruses. This is usually done by adding chlorine to the water.
Reasons for not drinking tap water in Phuket
When tap water leaves the municipal water treatment plant, it is safe to drink. However, as water travels through the pipes to your home, or when it is being stored in water tanks before reaching your tap it can become contaminated. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Old pipes: Old pipes can crack and break and let contaminations enter into the water.
- Leaks: Leaks in the pipes can allow bacteria and other contaminants to enter the water supply.
- Backflow: Backflow occurs when water flows backwards through the pipes, which can allow contaminated water to enter the potable water supply.
- Dirty water tanks: When water storage tanks are not maintained regularly, they are a source of contamination and bacteria growth
Common contaminants of water
Common contaminants of water include:
- Bacteria: Bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella can cause a variety of illnesses, including diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
- Viruses: Viruses such as hepatitis A and rotavirus can also cause a variety of illnesses.
- Heavy metals: Heavy metals such as lead and arsenic can be toxic and can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, neurological damage, and kidney damage.
- Other contaminants: Other contaminants that can be found in water include pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
How can I make my Phuket tap-water safe to drink?
One way to take control of your tap water supply on Phuket is to install a whole house water filter system. A whole house water filter system filters all of the water that enters your home, including the water that you use for drinking, cooking, bathing, and showering. This means that you can provide your entire home with safe, clean water from all outlets.
3 steps to get safe and pure water from all outlets in your Phuket home
We recommend a 3-step treatment solution with sediment filtration, carbon filtration, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Let’s quickly go through these three steps:
- Sediment filtration: Sediment filtration removes suspended solids from the water.
- Carbon filtration: Carbon filtration removes organic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides and reduces smell and taste of Chlorine.
- UV Purification: It is not the sand, sediments, or chlorine that can make us sick – it is the viruses, bacteria and other harmful microbes. This is why the final step of your Phuket water filter setup should include a high output UV-lamp to effectively inactivate these harmful microbes. Learn more about why we believe that UV water disinfection is the best way to make Thailand municipal tap water safe to drink here.
Why a Whole House System with UV-Purification is the best way to get safe drinking water for your home in Phuket
UV purification is the preferred way of killing bacteria and viruses because it is effective and safe. UV purification uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses without adding any chemicals to the water. UV purification is also very effective at killing bacteria and viruses that are resistant to chlorine. The 3 steps mentioned above also include a sediment filter and a carbon filter. These 3 steps can be integrated in a single water filter system that is easy to install, such as the BIG F PRO 267. A system like this is easily installed after your water tanks and water pump and provides your entire home with safe drinking water, straight from all outlets. Contact us for a free consultation on which water filter system that would best fit your needs.
