Even more renowned is the poor quality of Kaohsiung's water. The main source of drinking water, the Kaoping River, has been heavily polluted by wastes from the industry and aquaculture farms along its banks. Residents dare not consume the water, but instead buy from outlying cities and counties.
高雄水質更是惡名昭彰，由於供應大高雄市飲用水的主要河川高屏溪，受到沿岸工業和養殖業排放的廢棄物汙染，讓高雄居民不敢飲用自來水，而紛紛到外縣市買水喝。