Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a serious problem,” says Charlie Tomson, CEO of American water filter company Aquas-
ana. Second, even leaving potential toxins or carcinogens aside, many expats have found
the water in Beijing to be irritating, especially to sensitive or eczema-prone skin, and dam-
aging to hair quality or color. Some have also noted increased hair loss when they move to
Beijing. Tomson, however, says that there is no clear evidence that this is from Beijing's
water, but may often instead be related to the stress of moving to any new country.
Personally, my skin had always been much dryer in Beijing, and originally I put it down
to the dry climate. I did see and feel obvious improvement, however, when I switched to
using a filter on my shower. On the other hand, my Chinese neighbors tell me they have
been drinking and bathing in the Beijing water all their life, and I can vouch for the fact that
they all appear to be very healthy.
What Are Your Options?
At the very least, boil your water before drinking it. It won't get rid of heavy metals, but
will kill the bacteria. Brushing your teeth with tap water should be fine, but for anything
more than that, take precautions.
Avoid the barrels of bottled water. Unless you can 100 percent guarantee that your water
is from who and where you think it should be coming from, and that the plastics are toxin
free, it's best to bypass this option.
Get a filter system. This is generally becoming the preferred option. Things to look for
include the size of particles that are filtered, that high-quality carbon is used, and that the
filter is certified. Bear in mind that becoming “certified” in China can sometimes be exped-
ited by means other than quality, so if the product has been certified abroad, this should put
you at ease. Ideally the filter will be fully imported; however, check to see if it has been
adapted for the Beijing water issues. Aquasana's China kitchen filters, for example, differ
slightly from the American ones in that they have a pre-filter to remove the higher levels
of sediment found in water here. Avoid buying your filter from sites such as Taobao, as it's
quite possible they're fake. Water filters can be purchased directly through companies such
as Aquasana, one of the most popular choices for expats. This is an American-run company
and has English-speaking staff who will install it for you and who can assess your needs.
Alternatively you can purchase filters via large retailers such as the World Health Store,
Carrefour, or Dazhong.
In the end, it comes down to personal choice and what makes you feel comfortable.
If you'd like to investigate the matter further,
www.myhealthbeijing.com
is a great place
