Is Bathroom sink water safe to drink? This is certainly one question that seems to keep resurfacing. The reason for this is the fact that emergencies may happen where the bathroom sink may be the only source of water.
Is bathroom sink water safe to drink?
The answer to this question is a big Yes! Water is life as long as it is not contaminated. It is, however, advisable that you have a fair idea on whether it is potable or not. If you are in a developed country, chances are pretty high that the water is potable. However, if you find yourself in an area other than this, you may want to check to confirm the nature and quality of water being supplied.
Signs To Know If The Sink Water Is Contaminated
By default, the best way to ascertain what is in your water is by having it checked by professionals. However, if you do not have the time or person to carry out such a test, here are a few ways to screen the water.
Observe the cloudiness
Some of the scientifically proven features of clean water include that it is odorless, tasteless and colorless. Therefore, one easy way to know if your water is contaminated is by simply observing its cloudiness or turbidity.
It should, however, be noted that even though cloudiness may not necessarily mean danger to you, it may well be an indication of the presence of a pathogen.
Slimy feel
Hardness is one unique way to determine if the water has issues. Hard water is usually composed of certain constituents such as magnesium and calcium which tend to leave behind droplets on your sink, drinking glass or faucet. It may also be the reason why your hands feel slimy after you must have washed them with water and soap.
You should, however, be mindful of the fact that hard water does not necessarily mean contaminated water. Hardness is simply the presence of too much magnesium or calcium. However, it may also be an indicator of the presence of certain metals such as lead, aluminum, and manganese.
Color Variations
Color is one vital yardstick for measuring the level of portability of water. For instance, yellow water may be an indication of chromium-6 content. Also, it may be an indication of the presence of manganese, iron, and lead.
Therefore, if your primary source of water is via the public system, you would want to ascertain if the yellow tint only surfaces while you are running cold water. This may well be an indication that the utility could be getting its pipes cleared.
On the other hand, brown or orange-colored water could be a pointer to the presence of excessive manganese, iron or even lead. It could also mean that rust is present which in turn means bacteria are close.
Greenish or bluish appearance
Green or blue water may simply be an indication of increased copper levels which may be as a result of pipes that are corroded? Even though copper is not a bad thing for you if it is in the right quantity, increased levels of presence may portend certain health risks such as liver, and kidney issues as well as anemia.
Bleach Smell
It is a standard practice for chlorine to be added to the water supplied to homes in America. This is done to kill pathogens and germs, however, when it gets mixed with some other organic compounds, it can lead to rather dangerous effects.
Rotten eggs smell
If the water supply to your tap smells like rotten eggs, it could simply mean there is Hydrogen sulfide present in the water. This is a gas without color which is naturally occurring in groundwater. The moment this gas gets exposed to bacteria, it changes to sulfate which leads to diarrhea or dehydration.
In What Instance Is It Not Advisable To Drink Water From Bathroom Tap?
It is not advisable to drink water from your bathroom tank in a case where the plumbing also comes with a storage tank for water. Here are a few reasons why this may be the case:
- It may not be fresh: the water that is supplied into the bathroom may result from a water storage tank. In some cases, this water may have lingered in the tank for a long time.
- Decaying creatures: it is not uncommon to find dead birds and rats inside the storage tanks. This is certainly not a good thing for water quality. It is a quick way of increasing the bacteria content of the water. Therefore, if you feel there is a dead rat inside your water tank, you may have to call up a plumber. You will be required to have the tank and pipe thoroughly cleaned up.
- Lead joints and pipes: older homes tend to have lead pipes inside their bathrooms. This simply means that it is not ideal to drink the water that is stored inside. This water is perceived as ideal for minor functions as long as you don’t swallow the same.
- Hot Water: in a situation where you have a system boiler along with a storage tank, it is not ideal for you to drink from the water tap. Also, a regular boiler is usually fed from the tank.
Why Should I Be Drinking More Water?
For the organs and cells in your body to function properly, it certainly needs regular water intake. Here are a few reasons why you need water more than you think:
1. Helps in the formation of mucus and saliva
Saliva is needed for digesting the food we eat and it also assists in keeping our nose, mouth, and eyes hydrated. This, in turn, ensures that friction and damage are greatly limited. In addition to this, water consumption assists in keeping the mouth clean. Water when consumed also assists in reducing the chances of suffering tooth decay.
2. Water also helps lubricate the joints
The human cartilage which is located in the disks and joints has about 80% water constituent. When your body is exposed to long-term dehydration, it simply means you will have reduced shock absorption capacity thus causing joint pains.
3. Increases skin beauty while supplying oxygen
It would interest you to note that blood contains over 90% of water and it also carries the oxygen to other parts of the human body. Also, when you are dehydrated, your skin becomes increasingly vulnerable to premature wrinkling and skin disorders.
4. Regulates your body while cleaning it
Water is vital in regulating your body temperature. Usually, the water stored inside the middle skin layers finds its way to the surface of the skin when your body temperature rises. When it begins to evaporate, your body begins to cool off.
Water is also vital for flushing the waste in your body as it eases the sweating as the removal of feces and urine. Furthermore, an absence of water may lead to the blood becoming thicker thus causing an increase in blood pressure.
How Can You Make Your Bathroom Sink Water Safer?
To ensure that you are consuming the right quality of water from your bathroom sink, here are a few tips to consider:
- Ascertain the source of the water
- If you can, get the water filtered
- If it is an emergency, you may distill the water for it to be safe for consumption.
Tips You Need To Know To Enjoy Your Water:
Do you find yourself in an environment where you do not trust the source of their water supply? Are you environmentally conscious and as such you don’t want to increase the plastic bottle contamination levels? Then learning how to enjoy the available water is important. Here are a few tips to help:
Be contented
This is a very important criterion for enjoying anything in life. If you have a sense of contentment about the source of water supply, chances are high that you will have little to be worried about as it all begins with the mind.
Set your mind to believe it is safe
This is not to eliminate the possibility of risks; however, it simply means you should stop expecting the worse from the water.
Filter
If you, however, have doubts about how safe the water maybe, you should filter the water to eliminate the inherent risks.
Lime it up
Lime is a powerful tool for capturing contaminants of water. You may cut some pieces of lime in the water to coagulate the waste particles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my water is contaminated by lead?
The best way to know this is to get it tested.
Do I need to boil or filter my water?
You don’t need to boil or filter your tap water
How do I get my water tested?
This can be done contacting the relevant regulatory organization.
Do the activities in the bathroom affect the quality of water in the sink?
Certainly, it does to some extent, which is why you must place importance on personal hygiene.
How long is boiled water safe for drinking?
As long as it is shielded from contamination.
Conclusion
Now is bathroom sink water safe to drink? We do hope that with the explanation provided, you should have a better feel of the right answer.
The simple fact is that you can drink Bathroom sink water, but you have to be mindful of the source. Ensure that if the source of the water is a storage tank, you should do all that is necessary to only use a fresh supply.
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References
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/20/health/healthiest-water-to-drink-faf/index.html
