Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To drink water out of the bathroom tap

116 replies

Hihosilver123 · 08/08/2024 21:36

I live in London, and my house is on mains water. At night, I fill my glass with water from the bathroom tap. My friend says you shouldn’t do that and should only use the kitchen tap. Surely, on mains water, the water is the same from every tap?

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 08/08/2024 21:45

The last plumber we had round said we shouldn't use the bathroom taps. I think it was something about hardening or softening the water and that the kitchen water was treated but not the bathroom water. I think we may have quite a convoluted plumbing set up though.

SomewhatContraryMary · 08/08/2024 21:43

Depends, do you have a tank or a water softener? Like a tank, water softeners tend to be grim and you wouldn't want to be drinking from it.

hobbledyhoy · 08/08/2024 21:42

As PP mentioned, years ago most houses had water tanks for bathrooms and the kitchen came from the mains.
The tanks could have all sorted of bugs and bacteria.
I was always told not to when younger, on the rare occasion I did, it always tasted a bit odd but I think it was purely psychological!

Bekindtoyourselfandothers · 08/08/2024 21:42

I was always under the impression you could drink water from the bathroom but it was advisable to use the kitchen tap because the water was fresher.
Certainly I think the water from the kitchen tap tastes much better so that's what I always use.

AudiobookListener · 08/08/2024 21:41

People get confused because if they have a hot water tank, then generally they have a cold water tank in the loft to feed the hot water tank. But the cold water taps in your bathroom are fed straight from the mains, not from the tank in the loft.

Awrite · 08/08/2024 21:41

I was brought up not to drink water from the bathroom. However, dh disabused me of the notion that it was unsafe. Total game changer!

Yeah, it's definitely safe.

Sheelanogig · 08/08/2024 21:40

I think it stems back to having water tanks in the loft of homes - birds/mice could get in, die and rot some tanks were of dubious materials. Fears of contamination.

Now most homes don't have water tanks and water is from the same mains, so we don't need to worry.

Dunnoburt · 08/08/2024 21:40

I voted yabu.......and I grew up with a water tank in the loft and remember running a bath with bones and feathers in.....turned. out a fledgling starling had fallen into the tank .....different era.... you will be fine!!! Xx

Tulipvase · 08/08/2024 21:38

BananaPeanutToast · 08/08/2024 21:37

She probably grew up in a house with a tank for upstairs and doesn’t know the difference. If it’s mains water you’re fine.

This

Prawncow · 08/08/2024 21:38

It depends if it comes from a tank or the mains. Mains connection is safe to drink. The tank can be a bit manky.

Sugarlily · 08/08/2024 21:38

I extensively researched this. As long as you don’t use a water tank this is fine.

Toddlerteaplease · 08/08/2024 21:38

It's fine to use the bathroom tap!

Miley1967 · 08/08/2024 21:37

I drink water from the bathroom tap too op as I have a tablet to take early morning. Have been doing this for years and have come to no harm !

BananaPeanutToast · 08/08/2024 21:37

She probably grew up in a house with a tank for upstairs and doesn’t know the difference. If it’s mains water you’re fine.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 08/08/2024 21:37

I live in London and use the bathroom tap everyday. Where does she think the water comes from?

Krumblina · 08/08/2024 21:37

I would like to know this too! My friend told me off for it