Like many residents, especially in the foreign population, Li Xin, 25, doesn't trust or drink the tap water in Beijing.

Once when Li woke up thirsty in the middle of the night, he found that his water dispenser was empty, so he swigged a glassful of cold tap water and went back to sleep. The next day, Li suffered from serious diarrhea and could barely stand. 

A sales manager in the Internet industry and native of Changchun, Jilin Province, Li moved to Beijing three years ago, and calls the local water "unpalatable." 

"Growing up in my hometown, the kettle would stay clean for years without collecting white sediment," Li recalled. "We could drink directly from the tap."

So when Li caught wind of the recent scandal surrounding bottled water, he was utterly confused. Nationwide discussion over water safety emerged after the Beijing Times reported that Nongfu Spring, one of the country's largest water producers, failed to meet national standards for its 19-liter jug sold in Beijing. The company says it applied local standards, and will sue the paper and soon shut down their plant in Beijing, the Global Times reported on May 7.

Metropolitan wades through your water options with expert opinions and purchasing tips.

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