Drinking water: Is it dangerous to drink hot water (after cooling it down) from the hot tap?

Question

Some people say it's not good because it comes from a storage tank and could have bugs in it. I often heard we should take cold water from the cold tap and boil it if we want to avoid drinking any bugs.

Answer 1

i drank hot water from tap
not dead still alive

Answer 2

Bugs start to die at around 72 degrees C, but to be sure that they are dead water should be boiled. Water in a hot tap probably doesn't get that hot and warm water is an ideal breeding ground for bugs, so it might be a risk to drink it, however I am sure the risk is low.

In the UK the water is treated so it does not contain any harmful bugs and is perfectly safe to drink, in fact, it also contains minerals like calcium and fluoride to help our bones and teeth so it is better for you then most bottled water. Boiling the tap water might make it lose some of these minerals so I would advise against it. Just let it run a little first so you are getting fresh water that has not been sitting in your pipes for some time. You can taste the difference.

Also, I have never heard of any one making tea or coffee from the hot tap before! Surely that would be rank! You can't make tea without using boiling water any way!

Answer 3

Some hot water systems have chemicals added to them to stop the pipes furring up. That's why it's not a good idea to drink water from the hot water tap. By the way boiling water doesn't necessarily get rid of all the bugs. In India we used to bring the water to the boil, simmer it for 15 minutes, let it cool down to about room temperature (about 30°) and then filter it through a stone filter. Quite a performance. Took about two hours.

Answer 4

Don't think it would be advisable to drink the water coming from a storage tank unless boiled first, because the impurities settle in the tank bottom. I have a cousin who lives in a town called Worksop in England the water from the cold tap is vile, she will use water from the hot tap but boiling it first, OK in coffee but never had a good cup of tea.On the other hand if you had a comby boiler it would be safe to drink as the water comes from the main supply.

Answer 5

Hot water can come from a sealed system, such as a pressurised megaflo etc. This is safer than a gravity fed system.

However, bacteria grows rapidly betwwen the 15-60 degrees temp range so drinking previously warm water is not a good idea as it has had plenty of opportunity to grow bactieria.

Water from a hot top where there is a tank in the loft is definiately out. Would you drink water from a glass of water you'd left in the loft for a few weeks, probably not ? mnay tanks do not have covers.

Personally, i'm not obsessed about it, but its wise to steer clear.

"If you live in a city in the US, then drinking any water you want is fine." What a classic, i'm off to the Hudson, anyone want a bucket full ? Are US stomachs imperviousto all toxins then ? wow

Answer 6

Water that comes from the tap, whether hot or cold, has to meet accepted standards for drinkability. While it is true that the hot water is held in a tank while it is heated, the tank i sealed so there is little possibility of bugs or anything else getting into it. If you are concerned that your hot water may be contaminated, call your local water company and have them test the water. They'll tell you if it's safe to drink or not.

Answer 7

Hot water from a normal ( North American style ) hot water tank should never be consumed. It has the potential to contain bacteria ( it could be a breeding ground for Legionaires Disease ) and as it has been stored in a tank, it can pick up all sorts of nasty stuff from the tank itself. Many homes have lead in the faucets, pipe, soldered connections or even lead pipes from the city main to the house. Hot water will absorb the lead much faster than cold water. I work in the heating business and have a large collection of old hot water tanks here before they go to the recycling yard. The parking lot is permanently stained from the rust that comes out of these tanks. Anyone who has been the sludge that comes out of an old water heater would never again consider letting that stuff into their bodies. Use it for cleaning only!!

Answer 8

Although fresh UK tap water is fine for drinking, you should avoid drinking out of the hot tap, particularly if you have certain types of hot-water heating systems.

Combi-boilers, for example, take fresh cold water and heat it as and when you need it. They do not store hot water in any way.

Most properties, however, have at least one form of storage facility for hot water (it's the one usually found in your airing cupboard wrapped in insulating foam).

Even though the water is normally heated and stored in a sealed system, water in the hot water storage tank is allowed to cool to the ideal temperature range for bacteria growth. The risk remains low, but that aside, the limescale and deposits and bare-metal heating element don't exactly makes for an appetising glass of water!

Answer 9

Nope it's fine straight from the tap. Hot or Cold. In America there are not bugs in the water.

Answer 10

It really depends on where you live. If you live in a city in the US, then drinking any water you want is fine. They clean filter, and add chemicals to ensure that the water is safe. A Brita filter will help remove any of those chemicals and the taste. If you live in a rural part of the US, the well water may not be good. Then you probably will want a filter, or may even need to boil it. Now if you live in some country with bad water (ie Mexico or in South America) the water may well be bad and need to be filtered.

Answer 11

Well, mine comes from the ground & I drink it right out of the tap cold as ice! If you fear you water that much, have it tested, or put a water filter in the line...