Be careful! The water dispenser is full of "mysterious people". If one appears, don't drink from it!

Friends who have used this kind of water dispenser in the office or at home, please raise your hands✋🏻

A few days ago, the related topic #Drinking ant bath water for 7 days at work# became a hot search, and netizens said: I have intensive phobia

On February 9, Ms. Wu from Guangzhou felt ants when she was drinking water at work. She opened the water dispenser and found it was full of ants. She drank the water for 7 days during work and was disgusted! ↓

Water dispensers are a standard feature of many companies and households because they are convenient for dispensing water and quick for heating. However, is the water in water dispensers really safe? How much do you know about the potential health risks it may pose?

Why do water dispensers become a "health killer"?

Water dispenser pollution

When filling the water dispenser, the smart seat will inevitably touch the outer wall of the bottled water, which may bring bacteria into the drinking water.

Image source: Newsroom

Air pollution

There are many microorganisms in the air. When water comes out of the water dispenser and the pressure in the barrel decreases, air will enter the water tank, and the microorganisms will then survive and multiply in the water tank and the bottled water.

2 Mistakes in Using Microorganisms to Accelerate Growth

Myth 1: The water dispenser is always in the heating state

This practice will not only increase the temperature inside the water dispenser, accelerating bacterial growth, but may also cause energy waste.

Myth 2: The water dispenser is not cleaned for a long time

The number of bacteria and fungi inside the water dispenser will continue to accumulate over time. Even newly opened bottled water will become "dirty water" once it flows through the water dispenser.

Bottled water pollution

The reasons why bottled drinking water is indirectly contaminated include overuse of bottled water barrels, inadequate cleaning and disinfection, and external environmental contamination during transportation.

The "porter" of bacteria!

Drinking water machine can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain

A CCTV program 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 3 days.

If the water dispenser is not cleaned properly, over time, when the water in the barrel flows through the contaminated smart seat, water inlet pipe and inner tank, bacteria will continue to accumulate and multiply. At this time, what you drink is not just the visible "ant nest".

Image source: Guangdong TV

For people with poor physical resistance, long-term drinking of such water may cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and abdominal pain, and in severe cases may even spread diseases.

How to clean a water dispenser correctly?

Disconnect the power supply to the water dispenser.

When cleaning, remove the water bucket, unscrew the water dispenser drain valve to drain the remaining water, and then wipe and rinse.

⚠️It should be noted that the part of the water dispenser that contacts the water bucket is prone to the accumulation of impurities and the breeding of bacteria, and needs to be carefully wiped with alcohol cotton.

Image source: CCTV-1

3. If you use a water dispenser cleaning agent, after adding it to the water dispenser, you should turn on the power to heat for 5 minutes, then turn off the power and soak for 30 minutes to allow the cleaning agent to fully react with water.

Image source: CCTV-1

Prepare a water container, drain the mixed solution into the container from the hot and cold water outlets of the water dispenser respectively, and then pour it back into the water dispenser. Repeat 3-5 times. This will not only clean the inside of the bucket, but also clean the water outlet.

After draining the mixed solution, finally use clean water to rinse the residue in the machine.

People's Daily Online Science Reminder

When there is no special cleaning agent for the water dispenser at home

Salt water or white vinegar can be used instead

Try to clean it thoroughly every two months.

Source: National Emergency Broadcasting, compiled from Litchi News, Jiangsu CDC, and Life Times

Preliminary review丨Chen Jiaqi

Review丨Wei Xinghua

Final Review丨Han Yonglin