When we want to grab a glass of water, we fill up from our kitchen tap, right? But what happens if you’re parched in the middle of the night and don’t want to head to the kitchen? Well, if you’re someone who thinks drinking tap water from your bathroom is the same, then you might want to think again. It comes as a message from Victorian Plumbing reads not to do this. Pondering the question “is it safe to drink water from your bathroom?” they say, in short, no.
“Technically speaking, all homes in the UK are provided with safe drinking water. However, there are multiple variables that impact this water, making it safe to drink from the kitchen tap, and less safe from the bathroom tap.”
So is it safe or not? They answer: “No, not really. Even though homes and hotels are supplied with water safe for drinking, there are too many variables to consider to completely guarantee its safety. So it’s best to avoid drinking from a bathroom tap if you can. Stick to bottled water or a kitchen tap.”
The experts add that factors that could affect water include the pipes as until the 1970s, it was common in the UK to install plumbing pipes made from lead in residential buildings. This practice was gradually phased out after it was revealed lead pipes could cause lead poisoning.
Although most modern homes today use plumbing made from materials like copper or plastic, older properties built before the 70s may still have lead pipes. If this is the case, this can pose a health risk to anyone consuming water from the supply – especially young children and babies who are more vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure.
Why can I drink from my kitchen tap and not my bathroom tap?
Most kitchens today have been fitted carbon filters which “works to remove chlorine and certain organic compounds including biocides, insecticides and pesticides, leaving just a clean, refreshing taste”, the experts explained.
The water from your kitchen tap also comes directly from the mains supply. This is a network of pipes that delivers water to homes across the UK whereas the water from your bathroom tap typically comes from a storage tank, often located in the loft.
These water tanks are usually small, holding around 25 litres to ensure a regular flow of fresh water from the mains. However, how often this water is replenished depends on your household’s water usage. As a result, it’s difficult to know exactly how frequently the water in the tank is refreshed.