Is It Safe To Drink Water From The Bathroom?

One of the biggest debates around home management is if we should drink water from the bathroom. There are two sides to this. One side claims that it is a horrendous idea, and no one should drink that swill. On the other side, you have those who say there’s no real issue here.

But let’s picture this. You wake up in the middle of the night and your throat is parched. What will you do? What are your options? You could either go all the way to your kitchen or quench your thirst. Or, you could sneak into your washroom and take a sip. The answer to this is simple- how old is your house? And, what are your pipes made of?[1] 

Bathroom Water- Yay or Nay?

In most modern households, plumbing is usually created out of copper and plastic. However, old homes usually have lead pipes. And we don’t have to say it out loud- drinking that water could be dangerous. After all, bathroom pipes made of lead aren’t really potable. The water absorbs the lead and all the toxins inside it. You would be quite shocked to learn that there are countless people around the world who are in doubt about drinking such water. Should they, or shouldn’t they?

A joint campaign has been launched to educate people about their bathroom water choices. The campaign runs between Scottish Water and Water Safe and urges people to take notice of their water pipes. While it should ideally be easy to locate a lead pipe, calling a plumber should ease up the process as well. United Utilities recently reported- “Many houses built during 1970 have lead plumbing and also a lead supply pipe (the underground pipe which connects your home to the water main in the street).”

Read: The 6 Most Recognizable Help Signals Everyone Should Know, Including Children

If you think your house was constructed post-1970, it won’t have lead pipes. You can check that out through the pipework in your kitchen. All you need to do is find the pipe that leads to the internal stop tap. Here, one needs to remember that lead pipes are usually dark grey in color. Most bathroom lead pipes also are easily marked and pretty soft. Again, if you have any doubt- ask your plumber. 

Why not abstain from drinking bathroom water anyway?

Julia Spinks, the director of Water Safe, also has her wise words, “The plumbing in homes is the responsibility of the homeowner, so we are urging all households to spend a few minutes checking if they have lead pipes. To safeguard health we would recommend replacing lead pipes that supply drinking water to bathrooms and kitchens with copper or plastic ones.” Also, there is no harm in asking any local water company to test the water. They would then be able to provide alternatives. 

To be honest, it would be best if you don’t drink bathroom tap water. After all, it does sound pretty disgusting, doesn’t it? Even if you discount lead, it could still be filled with harmful bacteria. The constant heating and cooling of water in your washroom releases bacteria that are harmful. Also, it can lead to lead residue mixing in with the water.

Keep Reading: Fire Safety Tips for Preventing House Fires, from the Laundry Room to the Kitchen