Drinking Water From Your Bathroom Could Be Bad For Your Health

We've all been told not to drink from the bathroom tap, but could it really be dangerous?

The truth is more complicated than you might think. So next time you stagger thirstily towards your bathroom tap in a hungover daze, it might be worth thinking twice.

According to research done by Scottish Water, in partnership with WaterSafe, the safety of the water you drink could depend on the room which you drink it in, and even how old your house is.

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The first problem with drinking water from the bathroom tap is that, in older homes, it will be less fresh than the water in the kitchen.

This is because the bathroom water will have been stored in a tank at the top of the house, risking contamination from birds and other common household pests.

To avoid any unwelcome nutrient supplements to your diet, its probably wise to fill your glass from the fresh mains water which comes straight out of your kitchen faucet.

But a bigger danger exists for bathroom tap water guzzlers. In UK properties before 1970, lead was commonly used to make the piping connected to bathroom taps. Over time, this poisonous metal dissolves into the water supply, potentially causing a range of grizzly symptoms.

According to the NHS Inform, in adults, lead poisoning could induce feelings of fatigue, headaches, and memory loss. So, if you are already feeling a little tender, the morning after the night before, that glass of bathroom water might not be your best bet. 

After 1970, lead pipes started to be replaced with plastic and copper alternatives which are far safer, but it’s worth checking your own property.

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WaterSafe spokesperson Julie Spinks noted this in 2018: "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."

So get your pipes checked next time the plumber pops by and you will be able to drink from your bathroom tap with abandon; reassuring yourself that next Saturday morning: its just a hangover…and not early onset lead poising.