If you’re getting up for a drink during the night, your first port of call may be the bathroom tap - but is the water safe to drink?
According to experts, the answer depends on the age of your house and the set-up that you have with your pipes and water system. While new builds have a direct water system, older homes may be fitted with indirect water systems, according to PlumbNation .
While a direct system supplies mains water to every tap in the home, an indirect water system stores water in a tank, usually located in the loft, for use in the bathroom. If you have this kind of system in your house, this could mean that water from your bathroom tap isn’t as fresh and may contain small amounts of dust and debris from the storage tank.
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The other thing to check before you start filling up your water glass from the bathroom tap is the type of piping used. Up until the 1970s, it was standard practice to install plumbing pipes made of lead in UK houses, the Liverpool Echo reports .
It was later discovered that this was causing lead poisoning, so copper and plastic were instead used for pipes in more modern homes. But if you live in an older home, it could be that your bathroom piping has not been replaced - so it’s best to get your water supply tested for peace of mind if you’re worried, Victorian Plumbing advised.
“Even though homes and hotels are supplied with water safe for drinking, there are too many variables to consider to completely guarantee its safety,” the bathroom company said. “So it's best to avoid drinking from a bathroom tap if you can. Stick to bottled water or a kitchen tap.”
The Water Professor added: “It's unlikely to kill you, but the clean water from the cold tap in your kitchen is a far better option. If you're prone to needing a drink in the night then maybe keep a fresh glass of kitchen tap water on your nightstand.”
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