Even if water wasn't polluted at the source, there is question of delivery quality.

I come from land with abundance of clean fresh water, but occasionally there are local problems. For example I remember a case with clean water pipes becoming polluted with waste water and causing local epidemic of loose stool.

Are you referring to cost of water purifying system which I described before? I have no idea, I don't work in that field.

@JanJal: you're right about the delivery quality.
On the water purifying thing: sorry, i got mixed up, my question was meant for Bucko.

Careful with your assumptions Alien. I have talked to a chemist about my former problem and what they told be surprised me.

Basically pure water is actually QUITE reactive and water itself is clearly the most commonly used solvent in the world. Water that is naturally mineralised is much healthier as it does not remove any minerals from your body, a percentage of water molecules have attached themselves to (usually) a mineral molecule which forms a more stable (less reactive) form of water.

Water that is pure however WANTS to form a molecular bond with something else, usually a mineral. So what occurs is pure water actually strips your body of the essential minerals you require and you pee them out. The result is clearly not good for your health as I found out - severe calcium and magnesium deficiencies. I switched to mineral water and hey presto, within 6 months back to normal.

Note though at the time I was drinking in excess of 3L everyday of water.

drbenkim.com/drink-too-much-water-dangerous.html
Why Drinking Too Much Water Can Be Harmful To Your Health

Once I get the logistics set up, I should be able to supply a complete system for approx $500 total. No power is required to use and it can be easily carried about to any location. Will hold 3 gal of purified water at a time.
Also it will remove thallium and 2 other radioactive elements from the water. No other purifier can claim this. BTW, radiation in Water is a naturally occurring process in many cases. However it is a very bad thing to drink!

I will be able to give more info when I return to Kunming in March if anyone is interested. I have detailed lab results from "Envirotek Labs", "LA County tast lab", "Uni of Arizona labs", "LSU lab", "Analytical Services Inc., " and "Spectrum Labs". This is a boneified purifier, frankly the best in the world at present.

@Blobbles: interesting info, didn't know all of that. You know anything about the water in Qingdao? There's a lot of it. Anyway, between that and boiled tap water, I seem to be doing okay.
@Bucko: sounds interesting, but it's not cheap (my point to JanJal about the public water system passing on expenses for what they don't do to the consumer).

@Alien

5 gal bottle of drinking water @ 20¥. That is 4¥ per gallon you're paying.

So 6000 gal of bottled water = 24000¥

1 purifier system cost 3,128¥ ($500)
That equates to 1.9¥ per gallon of TESTED and certified clean water.

According to my math you are SAVING over 50% on the cost of water.

Please explain why you say it is not cheap? Also I'm sure you are aware the bottled water in China is VERY suspect as to how clean it really is which is the most important point here. Maybe you can share some test results on the Kunming bottle water?

Hey, I'm just speculating, not doing math or testing water. Wonder what it costs in gas to boil a gallon of tap water.
But I'm not arguing with your business idea, and I know, very approximately, about the tap water, as do all Chinese, and realize something of what boiling does and what it does not do.

Boiling water kills pathogens, bacteria, virus. I does nothing for VOC's, heavy metals, pesticides. Boiling water produces potable drinking water for emergency use only. You are stIll ingesting lots of very bad material. Not to mention the fact that it tastes disgusting.

I'm sure you're right - at some point the state should obviously do something, but I wouldn't hold my breath - anyway, no bad effects so far. I wonder how many people in Yunnan boil & drink it regularly - my guess is, most.