Chinese woman drank wastewater for 5 years due to pipes wrongly installed by Xiaomi employee

The woman, identified as Liu, recently discovered the error after using a "water quality pen" to test her supposedly purified water. To her dismay, the device indicated that the water from her purifier had significantly poorer quality than regular tap water, the South China Morning Post reported.

Liu's water showed a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level of 600, double the usual levels found in typical tap water. Upon inspecting her purifier, Liu realized the pipes had been installed incorrectly, causing purified water to flow into the sewer and wastewater to be redirected into her drinking supply, NDTV reported.

Liu reported experiencing minor liver damage, according to medical checks conducted last month.

The purifier was originally installed by an employee of Xiaomi, a major Chinese electronics manufacturer, back in September 2020. The employee however has reportedly quit and could not be reached, according to the South China Morning Post.

Following Liu's discovery, a Xiaomi representative visited her home to confirm the issue. The company agreed to replace a filter component and promised further discussions to resolve the matter.