Drinking Water in South & Southeast Asia

[Polar Bear]

In October, I’m going to be heading off to Sri Lanka and after that India and Southeast Asia and I’m interested in finding ways to drink water safely without buying plastic water bottles.

Anyone here have any experience with filter bottles they liked or stories of horrible illness I should be warned about?

[JamesTheGiant]

When we went to Nepal and India we had one of these UV SteriPens. So we just drank tap water from our own bottles the whole way. Amazing things. But a bit expensive if you're just going for a short time.




Now for hiking in NZ I use a similar thing to the LifeStraw filter bottle. Good for 1000 litres on one cartridge. Cheaper than the SteriPen. You can get the filter bottles in two different grades. One stops bacteria and giardia, and the other grade stops even viruses. I don't know how you keep track of 1000 litres! I never have to worry about it going over 1000 liters because the glacial rivers here are filled with tiny particles of rock dust, which clogs the filter pretty fast. But not many glacial rivers in S.E. Asia.

[phillyy]

When we went to Nepal and India we had one of these UV SteriPens. So we just drank tap water from our own bottles the whole way. Amazing things. But a bit expensive if you're just going for a short time.




Now for hiking in NZ I use a similar thing to the LifeStraw filter bottle. Good for 1000 litres on one cartridge. Cheaper than the SteriPen. You can get the filter bottles in two different grades. One stops bacteria and giardia, and the other grade stops even viruses. I don't know how you keep track of 1000 litres! I never have to worry about it going over 1000 liters because the glacial rivers here are filled with tiny particles of rock dust, which clogs the filter pretty fast. But not many glacial rivers in S.E. Asia.

Sir, there is nothing wrong with technology, note it.

But please do the needful and SHARE technology - not all countries have this technology and it is your duty to give this to others so that they can have prosperity.


The Original Sin of grain storage must be brought to be reconciled with the Original state of Man, as babies, living in a state of Nibanna.

[Antaradhana]

Water from wells can be drunk. If the water was doubtful, then I used an electric heater and a tin mug. If there is no access to electricity, you can boil on the fire.

[mikenz66]

Water from wells can be drunk. If the water was doubtful, then I used an electric heater and a tin mug. If there is no access to electricity, you can boil on the fire.

While it's clearly good do things as sustainably as possible, I would be cautious in some areas, and also not be too complacent about what boiling and filters can do. Boiling (which needs to be more than just bringing the water to the boil!) is effective in killing some bugs, but does nothing at all to a number of poisons (such as various heavy metals).

Get some good, independent, advice about the actual risks and which treatments will be effective against them.


Mike

[Antaradhana]

While it's clearly good do things as sustainably as possible, I would be cautious in some areas, and also not be too complacent about what boiling and filters can do. Boiling (which needs to be more than just bringing the water to the boil!) is effective in killing some bugs, but does nothing at all to a number of poisons (such as various heavy metals).

In Sri Lanka, India and Thailand prevails, there is a problem in the bacterial infection, which is eliminated by boiling. The problem of contamination with heavy metals is relevant only for areas with developed industry and emissions from factories. And of course we are not talking about water from a swamp or puddle, but about water from a water supply system or a source, which the locals drink all their life without any treatment. Boiling - this is a reinsurance.

[mikenz66]

While it's clearly good do things as sustainably as possible, I would be cautious in some areas, and also not be too complacent about what boiling and filters can do. Boiling (which needs to be more than just bringing the water to the boil!) is effective in killing some bugs, but does nothing at all to a number of poisons (such as various heavy metals).

In Sri Lanka, India and Thailand prevails, there is a problem in the bacterial infection, which is eliminated by boiling. The problem of contamination with heavy metals is relevant only for areas with developed industry and emissions from factories. And of course we are not talking about water from a swamp or puddle, but about water from a water supply system or a source, which the locals drink all their life without any treatment. Boil - this is a reinsurance.

I'm no expert on water quality, but if the water comes from a well there can be various contamination without factories, etc. In some cases it is due to mining, sometimes fertiliser runoff from farming, and in some cases it is completely natural. For example, in parts of Africa there is significant contamination from uranium and other heavy metals in some wells. As you say, city supplies are likely to be OK if boiled.


Mike

[bazzaman]

Water from wells can be drunk. If the water was doubtful, then I used an electric heater and a tin mug. If there is no access to electricity, you can boil on the fire.

I have used this type of electic coil heater; but only to boil water for tea, and the water was already clean. The problem with trying to purify water with such a set-up is that the water boils in the mug very quickly... in a matter of a few minutes. If one then tries to keep the water boiling for a longer time it evaporates, or bubbles over the rim. Since it takes about 10 minutes of hard boiling to purify water of bacteria this does not do the job.
Good to have though for making hot drinks.

[Kim OHara]

Water from wells can be drunk. If the water was doubtful, then I used an electric heater and a tin mug. If there is no access to electricity, you can boil on the fire.

I have used this type of electic coil heater; but only to boil water for tea, and the water was already clean. The problem with trying to purify water with such a set-up is that the water boils in the mug very quickly... in a matter of a few minutes. If one then tries to keep the water boiling for a longer time it evaporates, or bubbles over the rim. Since it takes about 10 minutes of hard boiling to purify water of bacteria this does not do the job.
Good to have though for making hot drinks.

Ten minutes is much longer than necessary according to the CDC -

Boiling can be used as a pathogen reduction method that should kill all pathogens. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for 1 minute. At altitudes greater than 6,562 feet (greater than 2000 meters), you should boil water for 3 minutes.

That's from https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinki ... tment.html which has lots more good, authoritative advice.

Getting back to the OP -
Water is only part of the problem. Any food (but especially meat) kept at ambient temps (25 - 35 C in most of the region) will breed all sorts of nasties quite quickly. Fruit and veg which have been washed in local water will, of course, carry most of the local bugs too. Food which has been cooked at high temps immediately before you eat it will usually be fine, so you don't need to avoid street food altogether, but try to avoid anything which has been sitting around too long. Fruit which you can (and do) peel for yourself is better than fruit prepared ahead of time by local people.

But the bottom line (sorry! ) is that you should expect to get some kind of tummy bug while you're there, unless you are really careful or only there very briefly, and you should carry something like Diareze https://www.pocketdrugguide.com/drugs-m ... oride.html so that you can carry on with your trip.


Kim

[Antaradhana]

I have used this type of electic coil heater; but only to boil water for tea, and the water was already clean. The problem with trying to purify water with such a set-up is that the water boils in the mug very quickly... in a matter of a few minutes. If one then tries to keep the water boiling for a longer time it evaporates, or bubbles over the rim. Since it takes about 10 minutes of hard boiling to purify water of bacteria this does not do the job.

It's drinking water, not a blood transfusion apparatus. All bacteria that cause intestinal infections, at boiling will die almost instantly.

[Volo]

Anyone here have any experience with filter bottles they liked or stories of horrible illness I should be warned about?

Ask locals (e.g. in your hotel) where you can get filtered water. Many guesthouses, temples, etc would have a machine, which filters water, and you can fill your bottle either for free or quite cheap. Usually there are no problems with its quality. If you want to be on a safe side you can additionally boil it. I wouldn't recommend UV lamp, etc because eventually you still don't know how effective it is. If filtered water is not available I would rather choose boiling.

What concerns diseases, there are chances to get diarrhea. Whenever I have it in the Asia I usually go a traditional local doctor (Chinese, ayurveda, tibetan, etc, better to ask locals for recommendations) not to doctor trained in western medicine. Asians had problems with diarrhea for ages and had developed effective methods against it. Western trained doctors in Asia usually would simply give you a lot of antibiotics.

[bazzaman]

My first reaction to the heretical replies was "but... but... that can't be right!". So I did a search and it turns out that I've been labouring under a misconception for years.,, (granted it's a common misconception).
I have been boiling tap water for 8/9 minutes and using that for making coffee and tea. So, now that I am aware of the facts, I can save time and money. (b.t.w. the tap water is from a town supply in S.E.Asia).

[polo]

Water from wells can be drunk. If the water was doubtful, then I used an electric heater and a tin mug. If there is no access to electricity, you can boil on the fire.

How long do you boil the water for? I was told boiling only kills the bacteria not the virus. Are there virus in the river water or the well water?
My late brother was in Sarawak (in Borneo) he used the river water to brush his teeth he said and he got "Amoebic dysentery". He said the river water was stagnant not flowing. If it was flowing river water perhaps the chance of getting this intestinal disease would be a lot less.
He said it was pure suffering and he nearly died. He recovered but years later he died of cancer due to smoking.

[Antaradhana]

How long do you boil the water for? I was told boiling only kills the bacteria not the virus. Are there virus in the river water or the well water?
My late brother was in Sarawak (in Borneo) he used the river water to brush his teeth he said and he got "Amoebic dysentery". He said the river water was stagnant not flowing. If it was flowing river water perhaps the chance of getting this intestinal disease would be a lot less.
He said it was pure suffering and he nearly died. He recovered but years later he died of cancer due to smoking.

Viruses live in the carrier body, or are transmitted through body fluids: pus, sputum, saliva, blood, or through the bites of infected insects. Anything that can cause an infection in drinking water is killed by boiling instantly. You can even boil water from a swamp, but you will hardly like its taste.

In reality, it will not be water from the swamp, but water from the plumbing, which the locals drink without boiling. Poured from the tap - boil, poured into plates to cool, and then poured into a plastic bottle to carry with them.

[Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta]

In Burma, one of my top recommendations would be "plastic purified-water bottles" from some decent brands.