Installing China water filters in your home and office is a great way to improve your health and help the environment!
Authorities acknowledge that China tap water is not suitable for consuming directly, so advise residents that it must be boiled first.
Just boiling your water, however, will not remove all pollutants. Boiling water will kill bacteria, but not eliminate many metals and chemicals.
There are several different types of water filters you should install in your home in China, which we look at below. There are also different technologies for filtering water which we look at in more detail in our best drinking water filter article.
We have a list of water and shower filter suppliers in China at the end of this article. We also list some reputable bottled water delivery services in Shanghai.
Drinking Water Filters
There are many reasons why you should be wary of the tap water in Shanghai as we discussed in our Shanghai water article. Installing China water filters in both the kitchen and bathroom, therefore, is highly recommended to make your tap water potable, as well as for washing vegetables and brushing teeth.
As mentioned in our Shanghai food safety article, however, it is recommended to peel fruits and vegetables rather than just washing them due to the high amounts of pesticides used in agriculture in China. A better option would be to buy organic food in China so that this is not so necessary.
Testing your water quality before and after you install China water filters is also a good way to identify contaminants and ensure safety. Several suppliers listed below offer free water quality tests for your home and office in China.
Shower Filters
One potentially harmful chemical in tap water is chlorine which is added by water companies in order to kill bacteria, as is common in most countries.
The amount of chlorine used in China tap water, however, is
suspected to be higher than in other countries to ensure that the water is disinfected thoroughly.
Chlorine is dangerous to humans at certain amounts over long periods of time. When it enters the bloodstream directly through inhalation and skin absorption it is actually more harmful than when it is digested during drinking.
It has been found that when taking a hot shower significant amounts of chlorine can be inhaled and absorbed. So foreign doctors in China highly recommend shower filters be installed in your home to remove chlorine from the shower water. Fortunately, these are easy to install and not very expensive to buy in China.
Bottled Vs. Filtered Water for Drinking
As many expats prefer not to drink boiled tap water in China they often rely on bottled water.
Many experts, however, argue that using a high-quality drinking water filter is much better than relying on bottled water for both health and the environmental reasons.
Certainly single use plastic drinking water bottles should be avoided if possible as they are very bad for the environment. For those who buy the larger recyclable water bottles for coolers it is recommended you spend the extra few Yuan and buy from a large reputable company to avoid poor quality or even fake filtered water.
Tips for Bottled Drinking Water
If you must consume bottled water in China be sure to follow these tips:
- Never buy water directly from a water delivery person you meet on the street as some of these sell fake bottled water. Call the manufacturer directly and ask them to put you in contact with their approved delivery person for your area.
- When you receive the bottled water check the anti-counterfeiting QR/bar-code on the bottle.
- Bottled water should be consumed within one month of opening.
- Water coolers should be disinfected regularly, as bacteria can grow inside when they are not properly cleaned.
According to a survey done by the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Department, more than 80 percent of Shanghai water coolers installed in office buildings were contaminated with excessive bacteria. - Many bottled water delivery services will provide water cooler disinfection service, or you can do it yourself with a water and bleach solution.
China Water Filter Suppliers
Drinking Water Filters
- Life Solutions China
- Torayvino
- Torayvino Taobao
- Greenwave China
- Renaud Water Filters
- Aquasana China
- Paragon Water
- Paragon Taobao
- Bluewater
Shower Filters
Water Quality Testing
Bottled Water Delivery
Some reputable bottled water suppliers in China:
- Watsons
400-889-6888 - Nestle
4008208898 (press 2 for English) - Nongfu Spring
95077
Go from Water Filters China to the Shanghai Water Quality menu.