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Vivienne Chow

The health claims of water treatment devices and filters sold in local stores are to be investigated to see if they break the law.

The Consumer Council surveyed five  devices ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 and concluded that their purported health claims had no scientific validity.

The council said the devices claimed they could turn plain water into drinks with added health benefits, or even improve the condition of people with chronic diseases, but  the claims were unfounded and misleading.

Over the past year  the council received 37 complaints and 455 inquiries about water filters and water treatment devices. Twenty-two of the  complaints concerned sales tactics, false trade descriptions and the quality of goods and services.

The Health Department said that it would examine the content and description of these devices to see if they included misleading health claims that  were against the law.

Customs said that they were also  investigating to see if the devices violated the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

The Water Supplies Department said water quality in Hong Kong was good enough.

'In fact you don't even need to boil the water when it comes straight out of our treatment,' said a department spokesman.  'Dirtiness may come from some buildings' water tanks and pipes,  so most people tend to boil the water. We don't encourage  filters as they can house bacteria.'

The  department earlier warned Diamond Water in North Point about a  print advertisement it ran claiming Hong Kong's water supply contained toxic substances. The department spokesman said the company apologised and pulled the ad.

A spokesman for Diamond Water admitted the incident but said toxic substances were introduced  by water pipes and tanks.

Diamond Water said the results of the Consumer Council's survey did not correspond to the company's internal research.

The Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority received three complaints about a recent Diamond Water TV ad. The basis of the complaints was that the health claims   had no scientific  basis.

FACT AND FICTION

The case for using water treatment devices

Claim: changes cluster of molecules in water, making it easier for body to absorb

Reality: makes no difference

Claim: improves content of dissolved oxygen in water

Reality: no evidence this improves health. Humans aren't like fish - they take in oxygen by breathing

Claim: adding minerals helps rate at which water is absorbed

Reality: makes no difference - and too many minerals might drain body of water

Source: Consumer Council



Probe into misleading health claims for water filters