The Water Department is sending someone else out here on Nov. 21 to test for “heavy metals, volatile organic compounds” etc. I honestly hope nothing is wrong with my water, but the problem is I don’t know.
@Macek I think I understand where you’re coming from, but trust me I’m not trying for any kind of “foreigner episode”. I also don’t think my nose is “over-sensitive” as a few people who have been by my place have had no problems smelling the smell, including my roommate. You say that the smell will be gone soon, but the two people from the Water Department told me the smell will be around for a while, and will be worse on hot days. A lady from the EPA told me on the phone that she had a similar issue three years ago, and her water still smells.
Apparently my landlord ok’d the construction upstairs, but if there is anything wrong with the water, I’m guessing I can get them to fix it. I currently use bottled water to brush my teeth, but I did cave recently and started using the house water for bathing. I’m just looking for peace of mind.
You can claim I am being overly sensitive and suggest that this problem only exists as a result of my being a crazy transplant, that’s pretty much the same attitude one of the Water Department officials they sent the first time had. However, I have become accustomed to that dismissive attitude, being a foreigner in Taipei. I have experienced times when I definitely over- reacted, and times when my so-called over-sensitive foreigner nature has led to legitimate recompense, because there was a legitimate problem.
I ran the water for days thinking it would go away and it didn’t. Now I just want to know if the water is safe. If it isn’t, I want proof so I can get someone to fix it. I would rather the Taipei Water Department bear the cost of testing, but as I’ve said I’m willing to pony up for it if I need to.
What I didn’t appreciate was the Taipei Water Department sending out a couple of people to hand me a DIY PH kit and gargle my water. I would have rather they said “it’s your problem” than do that. But like I said, they’ll be out here on Monday to have another shot at letting me know what an overly sensitive winey little bitch I’m being about this whole thing. Maybe they’ll even drink some more of my water, look me in the eyes and say, “see, totally safe…pussy”