Is drinking tap water safe?

hazydayz · 19/02/15 - 19:29

I've had bad toothache all week and drink lots of tap water but is it ok to drink? I drink a lot every day and usually put bottles in the fridge too.

steveh31 · 19/02/15 - 19:32

Are we all dropping dead through drinking tap water?

No so that should answer your question.

RandomSally · 19/02/15 - 19:32

If it's straight off the mains like in the kitchen, yes.
If from a tank like most bathroom taps then not really recommended.

Gordie1 · 19/02/15 - 19:32

In the uk, yes generally its safe.

Sunnier · 19/02/15 - 19:37

Just my opinion but filtering tap water as much as possible is a good idea..

ETA : I use one of these,..

https://sizzle.co.uk/brita-aluna-water-filter-jug-24l-white-234625011?gclid=COP6j7nj7sMCFSIewwod1lQAMA

Vulpes · 19/02/15 - 19:39

From the mains, yep. Even safer if you're not using a mixer tap.

BelfastGuy125 · 19/02/15 - 19:40

As long as your tap isn't pumped from the sewer, yes.

hunter23 · 19/02/15 - 20:01

only if you carry out a health and safety check before you turn the tap

EvieJ · 19/02/15 - 20:03

Of course, though you can drink too much water.

Andrue · 19/02/15 - 20:05

In this country, yes. Almost always. In fact in hard water areas the minerals in the water might make it a health drink. I drink tap water all the time - don't believe in wasting money on ludicrously overpriced bottled water.

RandomSally wrote: »

If from a tank like most bathroom taps then not really recommended.

I wonder if it is still 'most'. Both of the houses I've owned were built in the 80s and every cold tap in the house is fed from the mains. The cold water storage tank is only used for the hot water taps and the showers.

Anywhere here's what defra have to say:

http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/tanks.pdf

My heating system is open vented and has its own small water tank.

hazydayz · 19/02/15 - 20:06

I just thought it might have something to do with my toothache and i've had diarrhea today and thought i might be coming down with something caused by the water.

CravenHaven · 19/02/15 - 20:27

... it could be that you have billions of bacteria leaching from your teeth that are going to blow a hole in you before you can get to the dentist.
Have a nice evening.

RandomSally · 19/02/15 - 20:31

Andrue wrote: »

In this country, yes. Almost always. In fact in hard water areas the minerals in the water might make it a health drink. I drink tap water all the time - don't believe in wasting money on ludicrously overpriced bottled water.I wonder if it is still 'most'. Both of the houses I've owned were built in the 80s and every cold tap in the house is fed from the mains. The cold water storage tank is only used for the hot water taps and the showers.

Anywhere here's what defra have to say:

http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/tanks.pdf

My heating system is open vented and has its own small water tank.

Our house is an 80s build and the tap in the bathroom upstairs is tank fed.

RandomSally · 19/02/15 - 20:32

hazydayz wrote: »

I just thought it might have something to do with my toothache and i've had diarrhea today and thought i might be coming down with something caused by the water.

Highly unlikely.

itscoldoutside · 19/02/15 - 20:32

Safer than bottled water which contain chemicals which leak in to the water under certain conditions.

MC_Satan · 19/02/15 - 20:38

Never had any issues. The bottled water thing is a total scam in this country.

AnnieBaker · 19/02/15 - 20:40

You can test your tap water, I am thinking of doing it myself. If your house has some old copper pipes etc. it can affect the water quality.

[Deleted User] · 19/02/15 - 20:41

yes........

[Deleted User] · 19/02/15 - 20:44

Only if you filter it through tin foil first.

itscoldoutside · 19/02/15 - 20:46

Oh you should let it run for 5 seconds before you use it as some pipes can be made from lead.

TheSilentFez · 19/02/15 - 20:49

In the UK, yes. Drinking tap water is perfectly safe.

[Deleted User] · 19/02/15 - 20:49

hazydayz wrote: »

I've had bad toothache all week and drink lots of tap water but is it ok to drink? I drink a lot every day and usually put bottles in the fridge too.

Of course it's safe plus it's so much healthier than all the sugar soaked soft drinks we consume. My old dad thinks its crazy that bottled water costs more than a bottle of beer.

RandomSally · 19/02/15 - 20:49

itscoldoutside wrote: »

Oh you should let it run for 5 seconds before you use it as some pipes can be made from lead.

Really? Still?

itscoldoutside · 19/02/15 - 20:52

RandomSally wrote: »

Really? Still?

Yes, in old pipes and houses prior to 1970.

http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/lead.pdf

Although they being replaced over time.

Occasional lead occurs naturally in groundwater however, this is a rare situation in the UK and lead is not present in the water within our wider public water supply network. However before 1970, many smaller water pipes were made from lead. Although lead pipes have not been permitted for this purpose for four decades, in older properties it remains possible that part, or all, of the underground service pipe connecting the water main in the street to your kitchen tap may be made from lead. It is also possible that some original lead plumbing remains within older properties especially if the kitchen has not been modernised.

A less common cause of lead in drinking water is the illegal use of lead based solder to join together sections of copper pipe.

SarahJam · 19/02/15 - 20:55

hazydayz wrote: »

I just thought it might have something to do with my toothache and i've had diarrhea today and thought i might be coming down with something caused by the water.

Is this the first time you've drank water from the tap?!

hazydayz · 19/02/15 - 21:06

No i've been drinking it for weeks but i used bottles in the fridge to keep it cold and a few weeks ago i noticed on one of the bottles there was a blackish mark near the top of the bottle. I thought maybe the water had done it so threw it out and anytime i would drink water i would just drink from a glass.

Hey there!

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