Swathes of Brits have been left disgusted and shocked after discovering the reason why you shouldn’t be drinking water from your bathroom taps – no matter how thirsty you might be
We’ve all been guilty of those late-night bathroom trips for a cheeky drink of water.
However, it might be worth tackling the stairs the next time you want to satisfy your thirst – or risk getting ill. Yes, tap water in the UK should be safe to drink – but there are still certain rules you should follow as a precaution. Up until the 1970s, many houses were built with lead pipes. This poisonous metal could end up ‘dissolving’ into the water supply over time, resulting in a slew of nasty symptoms. But even if you are in a new build, drinking tap water from the bathroom could mean you’re sipping on stagnant water, as it comes directly from the water tank.
According to the Sun, experts over at Victorian Plumbing warned: “Generally speaking, water from the water tank is more susceptible to contamination. Hence water from the tank only going to access points made for domestic use – such as your bathroom.” They added: “When water has been stagnant for a while it has a chance to collect any limescale build-up, or debris from the water tank, and carry this into your bathroom tap.” While limescale isn’t dangerous to your health, nobody wants a chunk of chalky minerals in their nighttime drink.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) swathes of users slammed Brits who drink from the bathroom tap, arguing it makes them feel ‘sick’. “Bathroom sink water is gross and not for drinking,” one user wrote. “Don’t try to tell me it’s the same water as the kitchen sink. I know the deal.” Another agreed, commenting: “Never in my life will I drink bathroom tap water, you lot make me ill.” A third added: “It has the essence of month-old toothpaste,” while a fourth wrote: “Why did no one tell me bathroom water is literally bad for you? It’s all I drink.”
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