Night Market Mobile Vendors Using Toilet Water

There is indeed a phenomenon of night market mobile vendors using toilet water.

Firstly, at the night market square near the Hechi City Gymnasium, some vendors pull the drain pipes from the public toilet sinks to their stalls and directly draw water from the pipes for backup use. They claim that the water they draw is not used for cleaning food ingredients but mainly for cleaning the ground when closing their stalls and for preliminary cleaning of cooking tools and tableware. However, even if it is not directly used for cleaning food ingredients, this behavior seriously violates hygiene standards. The water from public toilet drains may contain various bacteria, viruses, and harmful substances. Using such water for any food-related operations may pose a potential threat to the health of consumers.

Secondly, in Bama Yao Autonomous County, Hechi, Guangxi, some vendors use the drain pipes from public toilet sinks to draw water for soaking pineapples for sale. The vendor, Mr. Pan, used the drain pipe from a public toilet sink in the urban area to draw water for soaking pineapple chunks and then sold them on the move. He admitted to soaking 33 pineapple chunks with dirty water, having sold 6 chunks, with 27 chunks remaining. This behavior is not only unhygienic but also涉嫌 (suspected of) defrauding consumers, as consumers often have no way of knowing what kind of water source the vendors are using when making purchases.

Finally, there are mobile stalls near Yefengzhai on Huandao Road where vendors connect water pipes from the greening area that draw water from public toilet greening water (reclaimed water) and pour it into iron pots to cook spicy hot pot. Previously, urban management enforcement officers also found vendors using water from public toilets to cook food. The boiled water, when slightly cooled, emitted a strong sour smell. Although reclaimed water has undergone certain treatment, it is not suitable for direct food cooking. Using such water to cook spicy hot pot not only affects the taste and quality of the food but may also pose a hazard to the health of consumers.

In conclusion, the phenomenon of night market mobile vendors using toilet water does exist, and this behavior seriously violates hygiene standards and consumer rights protection regulations.