Shanghai's water-vending machines are under increased hygiene scrutiny.

And feedback from residents suggests that the elderly are having difficulty in following the written instructions involved in buying drinking water.

More than 95 percent of the city's 2,945 drinking-water machines are being monitored for hygiene and quality, and 86.6 percent publicize test reports on quality, the Shanghai Health Bureau said yesterday after a one-month supervision inspection.

The bureau said the Shanghai Yiling Environmental Protection Technology Co, the Shanghai Liling Industrial Trade Co and the Shanghai Ganling Drinking Water Facility Technology Co had machines that were not up to scratch. The three companies have been penalized.

One neighborhood on Nanjing Road W. had a drinking-water machine installed three years ago, but residents have had a mixed reaction.

"If you come here early in the morning, you may find people waiting in line to buy purified water from the machine," said Li Guohua, a community resident. "We use it every day as it is convenient and economical. One liter only costs one yuan (13 US cents)."

But he expressed concerns about quality. "Sometimes we still choose to boil it before drinking."

Wu Minji, a waiter in a nearby restaurant, used the machine for the first time yesterday and was confused by it. "It is a good facility, but I'm afraid the elderly may have difficulties in using it. Instructions are complicated."

A 78-year-old woman in the neighborhood said most elderly people don't know how to use the machine.

(Shanghai Daily August 10, 2007)