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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think you can drink tap water in a 1st world country!

284 replies

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 22:10

My OH will not drink tap water and it drives me insane. He just drove 20 minutes home at 10pm because he left half a bottle of water on the side at home and no shops are open and in his words ‘I take my water seriously’

I think the reason it drives me insane is because the reason he won’t drink it is because of the hormones etc in it but yet he has spent his whole life being obese. He goes through intense phases of working out and eating really well and loses weight but ultimately he is still obese and thinks that the one time he got to 17st is some sort of achievement that he needs to tell me about allllllll the time. He drives without a seatbelt on, he took pretty hard drugs as a young man and has always drunk alcohol (although he barely does these things now) I think another reason is that he constantly watches strong men / sports personalities talking about their workouts and nutrition and he insists on telling me about things that I have no interest in and have told him as much - after many years of politely saying ‘ooh interesting’ whilst secretly thinking ‘I bet you weren’t thinking about the processed meats giving you cancer when you ate your McDonalds wrap for breakfast 😡’ or ‘I’m 9 years older than you and manage to get more done in any given day than you do despite the fact that I’m not interested in an ice bath’ I know there’s no link to obesity from tap water but Jesus Christ something has to kill you! I doubt it will be the rusty pipes or hormones in the water! He had the audacity to ask me if I felt comfortable eating a sweetie the other day (not fat shaming me, I’m not fat, more that he wanted to make the point that there were no ingredients on the wrapper, pretty sure there were no ingredients on the sweet and sour chicken from the Chinese that he ate last night either 🤪)

I also know lots of you are going to tell me to get a grip and let him live as he pleases but if you had to listen to him go on and on about it whilst he’s sat there sweating and needing 400 bowel movements a day you would find it a hard pill to swallow.

Do you drink tap water? AIBU to think that in an emergency a bit of tap water isn’t going to kill you!

OP posts:
LowDownBoyStandUpGuy · 13/07/2025 22:52

I pretty much only drink tap water I would only drink bottled if I forgot my water bottle that I fill up at home, drinking regularly out of plastic bottles must be worse for you than anything to do with tap water.

Tbh I think you have bigger problems than the water issue though with him.

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/07/2025 22:52

I would drink tap water over bottled water in the UK for 2 reasons.

  1. The unit cost for tap water is approximately £3 per cubic metre (ie 1000 litres). The same £3 would only buy you 2 litres of bottled water.
  2. The number of regulations governing the production and supply of tap water far exceed the number of regulations for bottled water.
Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 22:52

clary · 13/07/2025 22:45

If you live in a hard water area then no you can't drink it, well unless you filter it first.

Wait what? In Derbyshire our water is very hard (limescale galore) and of course you can drink it! It tastes just fine!

OP I agree that there are other issues here beyond the water. And what do you mean he doesn't wear a seatbelt? Has he been ticketed for that? Why doesn't he?

He just doesn’t wear one, I don’t know what to tell you other than that. I hate it and tell him all the time, he has never been stopped for it. Maybe if he received a fine he would start wearing one but they must not notice when he drives past. It’s weird I know, I was just using it as an example of how much he is picking and choosing certain things to be interested in and go on about so to speak.

OP posts:
FlayOtters · 13/07/2025 22:53

why the fuck doesn't he wear a seatbelt?? what a moron of the first degree.

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 22:54

mindyourhead78 · 13/07/2025 22:45

I don't like tap water as I can't stand the taste it makes me gag but I can drink bottled water. So at home I add squash🤷‍♀️

To be fair so do I, I don’t drink much water but lots of sugar free squash so it’s almost as good isn’t it? I hope so anyway!

OP posts:
ChocolateGanache · 13/07/2025 22:54

Devilsmommy · 13/07/2025 22:38

If you live in a hard water area then no you can't drink it, well unless you filter it first. It won't kill you once in a blue moon though. Does he drink milk at all? If yes, ask him why he can accept all the hormones in that but not water😂 he sounds very conflicted with his healthy living whilst being obese

Bonkers.

SilenceOfTheTimTams · 13/07/2025 22:55

Tap water is purer than bottled water. Microbial contamination in water stored in bottles is far higher than in the mains supply.

StarDolphins · 13/07/2025 22:55

Tap water tastes awful but bottled water isn’t good either. What about a filter jug?

minnienono · 13/07/2025 22:56

@Devilsmommy I prefer hard water area water, drink it all the time

belladeli · 13/07/2025 22:57

If you live in a hard water area then no you can't drink it, well unless you filter it first.

You ideally should filter it first but you don't have to.

@BMW6 It's to do with PFAS etc

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 22:57

StarDolphins · 13/07/2025 22:55

Tap water tastes awful but bottled water isn’t good either. What about a filter jug?

He isn’t interested in it being filtered. I think he’s crackers.

OP posts:
stayathomer · 13/07/2025 22:58

In Ireland and our water has just been cut off for the fifth day in a row, and the eleventh time this year. There’s times in comes out white in a glass even after running it. Oh and it always tastes awful, and we’ve tied every filter out there! I drink it but only because there’s six of us and I couldn’t go through that amount of water but I do encourage the kids to drink sparkling if they want sometimes. No house I’ve lived in has ever had water as good as my mums so no I don’t believe all tap water is happily drinkable.

TourdeFrance25 · 13/07/2025 22:59

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 22:42

There are and that’s probably why I needed to vent and why it makes me irrationally angry. I don’t know why, he’s large so probably uncomfortable but also seems to think he’s invincible? It’s so hypocritical though! I won’t drink tap water but I’ll risk my life in the roads 3 times a day!

Yeah, we heard you the first hundred times, we get it, he's overweight. Could your destain be any clearer?

You don't have to stay married if you no longer want to be.

No doubt he's fucking annoying, but you chose to marry & stay married to him.@

Isittimeformynapyet · 13/07/2025 23:00

This reply has been deleted

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Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 23:02

stayathomer · 13/07/2025 22:58

In Ireland and our water has just been cut off for the fifth day in a row, and the eleventh time this year. There’s times in comes out white in a glass even after running it. Oh and it always tastes awful, and we’ve tied every filter out there! I drink it but only because there’s six of us and I couldn’t go through that amount of water but I do encourage the kids to drink sparkling if they want sometimes. No house I’ve lived in has ever had water as good as my mums so no I don’t believe all tap water is happily drinkable.

Thanks, I'm sure it’s not but he can see that I am healthy, fit and well with an iron clad stomach so to speak. Touch wood I have 44 years of good health behind me and have been drinking tap water the whole time. He, on the other hand, regularly talks about how unwell he feels, how tired he is, how he has no energy and needs the toilet 5-6 times a day and I find it difficult to swallow when he lectures me about issues with tap water or the latest health fad etc because I’m quite literally doing twice as much as him.

OP posts:
TourdeFrance25 · 13/07/2025 23:03

stayathomer · 13/07/2025 22:58

In Ireland and our water has just been cut off for the fifth day in a row, and the eleventh time this year. There’s times in comes out white in a glass even after running it. Oh and it always tastes awful, and we’ve tied every filter out there! I drink it but only because there’s six of us and I couldn’t go through that amount of water but I do encourage the kids to drink sparkling if they want sometimes. No house I’ve lived in has ever had water as good as my mums so no I don’t believe all tap water is happily drinkable.

I live in a hard water area in the SE of England & the tap water is horrible! Like you I've tried all manner of filters & none make it any better, I even have a Hilton kne.

I buy bladders of water, slightly better for the environment than plastic bottles, but anyone still complaining will get told not to throw stones! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 23:04

TourdeFrance25 · 13/07/2025 22:59

Yeah, we heard you the first hundred times, we get it, he's overweight. Could your destain be any clearer?

You don't have to stay married if you no longer want to be.

No doubt he's fucking annoying, but you chose to marry & stay married to him.@

Haha it’s true my disdain is palpable I’m sure. I’m glad you’ve never had the misfortune of being in a relationship with someone like him because let me tell you, some men will not leave. That’s a whole different post though and I promise you it’s not as simple as you think.

OP posts:
Keroppi · 13/07/2025 23:05

Well obviously you need to have a go at him and point out how hypocritical and foolish he is when he starts on one of his Biohacking Health rants. Instead of silently seething and holding it in

He's not wrong about that stuff but of course he totally lacks willpower if he's eating McDs and takeaway etc
Do you not do the same thing back to him when he starts to order McDs? 'Oh are you sure you want that, what with all the hormones and UPFs?'

Tiedbutchorestodo · 13/07/2025 23:06

I live in a hard water area and drink the tap water all the time - unfiltered - I don’t actually like the taste of softer water when we go to different areas (but still drink it rather than waste money on bottled)

summertimeinLondon · 13/07/2025 23:06

Devilsmommy · 13/07/2025 22:38

If you live in a hard water area then no you can't drink it, well unless you filter it first. It won't kill you once in a blue moon though. Does he drink milk at all? If yes, ask him why he can accept all the hormones in that but not water😂 he sounds very conflicted with his healthy living whilst being obese

Eh? Nothing wrong with drinking hard water! The minerals in it are actually very good for you!

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 23:06

TourdeFrance25 · 13/07/2025 23:03

I live in a hard water area in the SE of England & the tap water is horrible! Like you I've tried all manner of filters & none make it any better, I even have a Hilton kne.

I buy bladders of water, slightly better for the environment than plastic bottles, but anyone still complaining will get told not to throw stones! 🤷🏻‍♀️

That’s different though isn’t it? Me and three kids in this house drink the water and it tastes fine and none of us have health issues. Of course if it tasted rank I wouldn’t give it to my kids.

OP posts:
fireplaceember · 13/07/2025 23:08

I drink tap water but I do keep 2l of bottled water in. Only after I woke up one day to a do not drink water notice that went on for weeks and I can’t cope without my morning cup of tea!

TourdeFrance25 · 13/07/2025 23:08

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 23:04

Haha it’s true my disdain is palpable I’m sure. I’m glad you’ve never had the misfortune of being in a relationship with someone like him because let me tell you, some men will not leave. That’s a whole different post though and I promise you it’s not as simple as you think.

You have zero clue about my life, you know nothing of what I've done/been through.

I don't think it's simple, but even if you have serious complications (like disabilities/disabled children) it's still possible to leave, you don't need to naje him leave, you leave.

summertimeinLondon · 13/07/2025 23:13

belladeli · 13/07/2025 22:57

If you live in a hard water area then no you can't drink it, well unless you filter it first.

You ideally should filter it first but you don't have to.

@BMW6 It's to do with PFAS etc

PFAs are not the same as hard water. What makes water hard is mineral deposits from water filtering through natural rock in some areas. It’s an entirely natural process, and the extra minerals are actually good for you!

I moved from a soft water area in the north, to a hard water area in the south. It tasted weird at first, but now I’m used to it and actually prefer it.

Drowninginconfusion · 13/07/2025 23:13

Keroppi · 13/07/2025 23:05

Well obviously you need to have a go at him and point out how hypocritical and foolish he is when he starts on one of his Biohacking Health rants. Instead of silently seething and holding it in

He's not wrong about that stuff but of course he totally lacks willpower if he's eating McDs and takeaway etc
Do you not do the same thing back to him when he starts to order McDs? 'Oh are you sure you want that, what with all the hormones and UPFs?'

No I don’t anymore. I used to but I do lots of grey rocking now because it protects my peace a little more. Basically I don’t eat McDonalds when he has one and if we have takeaway I just eat a small portion, he doesn’t even notice that I’m not eating the same foods as him because he is very self centred. I used to argue about the tap water but in our last house apparently we had very old pipes so I kind of thought he might have a point but he’s carried in the ridiculousness in a new house as well. When he was on his last health kick he insisted that we only use half a packet of spice mix in our home cooked meals because of the salt content (bearing in mind everything other than the spices was fresh produce and home cooked from scratch) and it drove me nuts because it’s didn’t taste as nice. When he ordered his kebab a few weeks later I pointed out that it probably have 10 times the amount of salt that he was being fussy about mid week but it went straight over his head. He now drinks rock salt or something (I wasn’t listening) for the ‘electrolytes’ You couldn’t make it up 😂

OP posts: