The summer holidays are here, and families are jetting off around the world for some fun-filled getaways. However, there is one drink you should be avoiding while on holiday, as it could potentially make you ill. New guidance is urging holidaymakers to avoid drinking water straight from hotel bathroom taps.
According to Brian Toward, CEO of UK bathroom retailer Wholesale Domestic, many travellers are unaware of the potential dangers of drinking tap water directly from hotel bathrooms. Plenty of hotels have older plumbing systems that could lead to a lesser quality of water than you may get at home, and some older hotels still even have lead pipes in their buildings.
“If you’re staying at a hotel, it’s a good idea to avoid drinking from the bathroom tap if you can,” says Brian.
“It might be tempting, especially if there’s no other tap in the room, but it’s better to grab a few bottles of water during your stay, especially if the hotel is older and might still have old lead pipes.”
Although you may be holidaying somewhere that does have clean water, Brian warns that many hotels still rely on large rooftop or attic water tanks to supply guest bathrooms.
While these tanks will typically be regularly topped up, they can pose contamination risks if they are not properly maintained.
If the water in these tanks is left stagnant, it can accumulate limescale, bacteria, and even debris from the tank itself.
Brian added: “The less frequently the water in the tank is refreshed, the more likely it is to pick up some contaminants along the way and if hotels still have old pipes, stagnant water is more likely to absorb lead and other metals, making it even more risky.”
Brian further highlights that boiling the water in a kettle won’t necessarily solve the problem.
He said: “A common belief is that boiling tap water makes it safe to drink, which is somewhat true, but it’s important to note that doing so does not entirely eliminate the risk of chemical contamination or debris.
“While boiling tap water for 15 minutes will remove trace amounts of chlorine, and studies have shown that it can also remove up to 90% of microplastics in the water, this will not help if your water has been contaminated by lead.”