Can you drink water fronm the bathroom tap?

[emx384]

Sounds silly I know - but my mum always used to tell me not to drink the water from the bathroom tap as it comes from a tank in the loft rather than the mains supply like the kitchen tap! Is this true and does it apply to all houses?

[mikesnr]

In a word the answer is yes; as a generalisation, water from the kitchen tap comes direct from the rising main while other taps may be plumbed internally.

[woodchopper]

Applies to most houses - reason being - things can fall into water tanks eg. dead pigeons, mice etc.

[dolly pond]

unless u have a combi. no tank

[annie0000]

It absolutely depends what kind of water system you have - try turning of the cold water supply - usually this is under the kitchen sink then try the upstairs taps - if you still get cold water, it is coming from a tank in the loft and you should never drink it - it could be ful lof allsorts - tanks usually have a lid these days, but you can't be sure that it is on properly or that it was properly clean before the lid went on.

[dolly pond]

our tank was removed, so just check! we had a fab new combi put in, can spend 2hrs soaking in the bath and theres endless ht water. fab

[moonshadow]

Bacteria and fungi called Biofilms can grow on the inside of cold water taps. To see if you have a problem carefully put a cotton bud up the tap and wiggle it, when you pull it out be prepared for some black slime and squirt bleach up the tap to kill the spores.Don't forget to run the tap for a while after. Let us all know what happens if you try it !!

[wizard69]

have a look at this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshi re/3687519.stm
these are my neighbours and they had dead squirrals in there loft water supply.

[terence7556]

all the water from your water supplier is "wholesome" and that water that enters your home is all the same quality.
the kitchen tap is fed directly from the rising main whether you have a direct or indirect system of distribution around the rest of the home but the indirect system uses a storage tank to feed the other draw off points.
so like most moms yours knows best because the water in the storage tank can be easily contaminated after entering the home

[VillageVicar]

All of my taps are now mains connected. However, about 10 years ago, when the bathroom taps weren't, I always brushed my teeth with the cold water and rinsed my mouth out in the shower. I had the plumber in to assess changing to the mains. He carried down from the loft the carcass of three dead pigeons that had been floating in the water tank, presumably for years! Talk about revulsion!

Yes, your mother is/was right! But if your tap is now on the mains...you're free to go!

Best of luck

Fr. Bill

[Figi]

I've been drinking water from the bathroom tap for years and it has never done me any harm. However, our tank does have a proper lid.

[spottychops]

ugh!!!!!!! now i feel ill. no wonder i`m called spotty

[emx384]

Thanks for all your answers!! My boyfriend is now feeling a bit sick too!! - I told him not to drink from the bathroom tap!!