Almost half of coin-operated water vending machines substandard
Almost half of all coin-operated water vending machines nationwide are below standard with the water unsafe for general consumption, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
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Dispensers fail water tests
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Almost half of all coin-operated water vending machinesnationwide are below standard with the water unsafe for general consumption, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
The department released data showing around 40% of the machines dispense water which fails to meet acceptable water-quality standards.
Deputy director-general Danai Theewanda said the department carried out a study in 2016 on the quality of water provided by the dispensers.
The study found much of the water contained too much bacteria while the amounts of acid and basic salt materials failed to meet standards, he said.
Dr Danai said drinking contaminated water poses a risk of diarrhoea, digestive problems and amoebic dysentery.
He urged consumers to exercisecaution and only buy drinking water from machines that are well-maintained and regularlydisinfected.
People are urged to check the machine for labels indicating how often it is cleaned. The label should include the company's name and that of the inspector, Dr Danai added.
The machine also must be located in a safe and clean place that is a "decent" distance from any waste-collection point, he said.
The water diffuser inside the machine should be made of non-toxic material, such as stainless steel, and the water must be relatively clear and colourless, he added.
Dr Danai said the Department of Public Health strictlymonitorsvending machinesuppliers as the water they dispense could pose a health risk.
Operators are required to apply for a licence to run the business, Dr Danai said.
- acceptable: that somebody agrees is of a good enough standard - ที่ยอมรับได้
- amoebic dysentery (noun): an infection of the intestine (gut) caused by an amoeba - โรคบิดอะมีบา
- apply (verb): to make a formal request for permission to do or have something - ขอ, สมัคร
- caution: careful thought and lack of hurry in order to try to avoid risks or danger - ความระมัดระวัง
- coin (noun): a flat round piece of metal used as money in a country - เหรียญ
- collection (noun): gathering; the bringing together that have been spread around - การเก็บรวบรวม
- consumption: using, eating or drinking something - การบริโภค
- contain: to store or hold something - บรรจุ
- contaminated: made dirty, polluted or poisonous by the addition of a chemical, waste or infection - ปนเปื้อน
- data: facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or to make decisions - ข้อมูล, ตัวเลข, สถิติ
- decent: of a good enough standard or quality - เหมาะสม
- deputy: a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation - รอง
- diarrhoea (noun): an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the bowels much more frequently than normal, and in liquid form - อาการท้องร่วง, ท้องเสีย, ท้องเดิน
- diffuser (noun): a container used for spraying a liquid - ดิฟฟิวเซอร์
- digestive: connected to digestion, the process in the body of making food in substances the body can use - เกี่ยวกับการย่อยอาหาร
- director-general: the head of a large organisation, especially a public organisation - อธิบดี
- disinfect: to make something clean by treating it with a substance that kills disease causing organisms - ฆ่าเชื้อโรค, ทำให้ปลอดเชื้อ
- dispense (verb): to give out something to people - จ่ายให้
- dispenser (noun): a machine or special container that gives things to people - เครื่องแจกจ่ายสิ่งของ
- exercise: to use - ใช้
- indicate: to show that something is true, exists or will happen - แสดง, ให้สัญญาณ
- inspector : an official whose job is to check that things are in the correct condition or that people are doing what they should - ผู้ตรวจสอบ
- label (noun): a piece of paper, etc. that is attached to something and that gives information about it - ฉลาก, แถบ
- licence: an official document that gives someone permission to do or use something - ใบอนุญาต
- located: where something is - ตั้งอยู่
- maintain: to keep something in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly - ซ่อมบำรุง
- materials (noun): things that are needed in order to do a particular activity - วัสดุ
- monitor: keep track of - ตรวจ, ติดตาม, เฝ้าสังเกต
- nationwide: throughout a whole country - ทั่วทั้งประเทศ
- operator (noun): a person or company that runs a business - ผู้ดำเนินกิจการทางธุรกิจ, ผู้ประกอบธุรกิจ
- pose a risk: to be a possible danger - กระทำการซึ่งอาจก่อให้เกิดอันตรายต่อ
- provide: to give someone/ something that they want or need - จัดหาให้, จัดเตรียมไว้ให้
- quality: the standard of something when it is compared to other things like it; how good or bad something is - คุณภาพ
- regularly: done or happening often, especially with the same time and space in between each activity and the next - เป็นประจำ, เสมอๆ
- relatively: somewhat; in comparison with someone or something similar - ค่อนข้าง
- release: to allow something to be shown or known to the public or to be available for use - เปิดเผย, ปล่อยข่าว
- stainless steel: steel that has been treated to stop rust forming on its surface, used for making knives, tools, and other things - เหล็กที่ไม่เป็นสนิม
- standard: a (high) level of quality - มาตรฐาน
- standards: a level of quality that is normal or acceptable for a particular person or in a particular situation - มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐาน
- strictly: demanding that rules, especially rules about behaviour, should be obeyed - อย่างเข้มงวด
- supplier: a person or company that supplies goods - ผู้จัดหาสิ่งของให้, ผู้ผลิตสินค้าและวัตถุดิบ
- toxic: poisonous and harmful to people, animals or the environment - เป็นพิษ
- urge: to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take - ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
- vending machine: a machine which contains products that can be bought by putting in coins or banknotes - ตู้ขายสินค้า เช่นตู้ขายขนม ตู้ขายน้ำดื่ม ตู้ขายกาแฟ ในที่นี้หมายถึงเครื่องขายหวยอัตโนมัติ
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