BANGKOK, 23 March 2015 -The Ministry of Public Health is making sure drinking water sold in Thailand is clean, as around a million Thais become sick from consuming contaminated water each year.
Public Health Minister Dr. Ratchata Ratchatanawin is having all drinking water available in the market tested for bacteria and heavy metals.
Most of the drinking water products that failed the test last year were found to contain bacteria. Other samples reportedly contained particles and had a metallic taste.
Only 33% of them were deemed consumable and harmless to humans. Dr. Ratchata has also said less than half of the water vending machines available to the public were clean enough to provide water safe for household consumption.
Meanwhile the World Health Organization has revealed that as many as 500,000 people worldwide die from drinking contaminated water annually.
