How dirty is the water dispenser? Many people can't imagine...

Bottled water + water dispenser

A must-have in many homes and offices

But many people are not sure about the cleaning and disinfection of water dispensers.

Not particularly concerned

There was a rumor online that: "The total amount of bacteria in the bottled water in the water dispenser will seriously exceed the standard 6 days after being opened. It is not as hygienic as drinking tap water!" Is this true?

CCTV's "Life Tips" column once conducted an experiment: the total number of colonies in tap water and bottled water were tested respectively. The results showed that the bacteria content of bottled water in the water dispenser was much higher than that of tap water after being opened for three days .

Today we will study:

Is the water in the water dispenser clean?

How does the water in the drinking fountain become contaminated?

How to clean a water dispenser?

Water from the water dispenser

CCTV News once reported an experiment on water quality testing:

The research team first sampled some ordinary tap water, and after 24 hours, they found that the bacteria content in the tap water sample was 1/ml . The national standard for bacteria in drinking water stipulates that the total number of bacteria in every 100ml of drinking water must not exceed 100, so in terms of the number of bacteria, tap water is still very clean.

The researchers then selected a bottle of water that had been out of the factory for 5 days , disinfected its outlet and collected samples. The test found that the bacteria in the bottled water were 0/ml .

How come such clean bottled water has excessive bacteria when put into the water dispenser?

The researchers found two water dispensers, one was brand new and the other was an old dispenser that had been used for three years and had been cleaned just six months ago.

To ensure the accuracy of the experimental results, first rinse and soak the inner tube of the water dispenser three times with boiling water, then use 75% alcohol to disinfect the inner cavity and water outlet of the water dispenser, and finally put bottled water in, release 500ml of water from the cold water inlet and hot water inlet respectively to rinse the internal pipes of the water dispenser.

After cleaning, we took samples and tested them. We found that the total number of bacteria in both water dispensers was 0/ml, which means that the water in both water dispensers is not contaminated. However, after leaving the bottled water on the water dispenser for 6 days, we took samples and tested them again. The results showed that the total number of bacteria in both barrels of water was greater than 1000/ml .

The Drinking Water Standard GB5749-85 stipulates that the total number of bacteria in every 100 ml of drinking water shall not exceed 100. Obviously, bottled water that has been placed in a water dispenser for 6 days no longer meets the national drinking water standard!

How water becomes polluted

1. Bacteria in the air

Zhu Yongze, chief technician at the Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital Testing Center, said: "Bacteria in the air can only multiply after being adsorbed on a certain platform, and the interface between bottled water and the water dispenser provides an ideal environment for bacterial reproduction due to the humid air."

After bottled water is loaded into the water dispenser, a corresponding volume of air will enter for every liter of water released , and various bacteria and microorganisms carried in the air will also attach to the inside of the water dispenser.

2. Stale water in the liner

After drinking the water, people just change the bucket with a new one, ignoring the about 1000 ml of water in the inner tank. Over time, the inner tank becomes a "breeding ground" for bacterial growth.

If the water is not cleaned properly, bacteria will grow and multiply, resulting in "secondary pollution". Long-term drinking of such water may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, even abdominal pain, diarrhea, and severe cases may lead to urinary tract infection . Therefore, it is very important to clean and disinfect the water dispenser regularly.

How to clean a water dispenser

Generally speaking, if the water has an odor, the water flow of the water dispenser decreases, or the water boiling time increases, these are all signs that cleaning is needed. It is best to clean the household water dispenser every 3 to 4 months. You can ask a professional water dispenser cleaner to come to your home to clean it, or you can clean it yourself at home.

1. Cut off power and drain water

Cut off the power supply of the water dispenser, remove the water bucket, and drain the remaining water in the water dispenser cavity. Pay special attention to opening the drain pipe behind the water dispenser to drain the remaining water completely.

2. Clean the water dispenser with cleaning fluid

Use a neutral detergent to clean the surface of the machine body, smart seat, tray and other parts. Use tweezers to hold the alcohol cotton and carefully wipe the inside and outside of the water dispenser movement and cover.

3. Disinfection

You can choose a disinfectant that is harmless to the human body and does not affect the water quality, pour it into the inner tank, and after 10-20 minutes of action, open all water outlets including the sewage pipe to completely drain the disinfectant.

4. Rinse repeatedly

Turn on all switches of the water dispenser, including the sewage pipe and the drinking water switch, and rinse the entire cavity of the water dispenser continuously with clean water. Turn on all switches to drain the flushing liquid, and rinse repeatedly until there is no odor before resuming use.

In addition, filtered water dispensers usually cannot be disassembled for cleaning. It is recommended to clean them according to the instructions and replace the filter element every 1 to 2 years. When cleaning, you should also pay attention to cleaning the surface of the machine.

It should also be noted that when the water dispenser is in use, the water inlet will come into contact with the air. If the air quality around the water dispenser is poor, it will inevitably seriously affect the quality of the water.

It is recommended that the water dispenser at home should not be placed near the balcony, window or other places where it is exposed to direct sunlight. It is also not suitable to be placed in the kitchen where there is a lot of oil smoke, nor in the bedroom. If it is a water dispenser in a public area, avoid placing it in a densely populated area, and do not place it next to a printer, copier, trash can, etc.

It is best to place the water dispenser in a light-proof place or cover the water bucket with a light-proof bucket cover, and keep the surrounding environment clean .