Shanghai's water-vending machines are under increased hygiene
scrutiny.
And feedback from residents suggests that the elderly are having
difficulty in following the written instructions involved in buying
drinking water.
More than 95 percent of the city's 2,945 drinking-water machines
are being monitored for hygiene and quality, and 86.6 percent
publicize test reports on quality, the Shanghai Health Bureau said
yesterday after a one-month supervision inspection.
The bureau said the Shanghai Yiling Environmental Protection
Technology Co, the Shanghai Liling Industrial Trade Co and the
Shanghai Ganling Drinking Water Facility Technology Co had machines
that were not up to scratch. The three companies have been
penalized.
One neighborhood on Nanjing Road W. had a drinking-water machine
installed three years ago, but residents have had a mixed
reaction.
"If you come here early in the morning, you may find people
waiting in line to buy purified water from the machine," said Li
Guohua, a community resident. "We use it every day as it is
convenient and economical. One liter only costs one yuan (13 US
cents)."
But he expressed concerns about quality. "Sometimes we still
choose to boil it before drinking."
Wu Minji, a waiter in a nearby restaurant, used the machine for
the first time yesterday and was confused by it. "It is a good
facility, but I'm afraid the elderly may have difficulties in using
it. Instructions are complicated."
A 78-year-old woman in the neighborhood said most elderly people
don't know how to use the machine.
(Shanghai Daily August 10, 2007)