Do you drink it straight from the tap?
2007-01-15 22:05:33 · 34 answers · asked by tulip 4 in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Health & Safety
As this question is being asked in the travel site I assume you are asking this question in regards to your travel. My advice then is NOT in 3rd world countries - here ask for bottled water - do not have ice with your drinks - also take a purification kit with you (normally tablets that sanitise the water) in case you are not able to access Bottled water or able to boil it well. However in 1st world countries regulations are quite strict so it should be safe enough.
2007-01-15 22:45:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends where you are - In the UK then yes, it's fine (though some areas taste better than others - Yorkshire and Scotland taste lovely, Lincolnshire and Kent are pretty grim).
Most areas of France are safe, Spain too, but some of the smaller and less developed European countries are a bit dubious.
Some people prefer to drink filtered water to sift out impurities and chemicals, but this does add sodium to your intake, so be careful.
Another thing you can do is to leave the tap water standing for half an hour to let the chlorine evaporate from it - it'll taste better and you won't be drinking the chlorine.
2007-01-15 22:16:50 · answer #2 · answered by SilverSongster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mains water in all parts of the UK is safe to drink. You can drink water from any tap that's connected directly to the mains. Water from a loft tank is not safe to drink. Water that's been through a water softener has a high sodium content and is not suitable for babies and people with heart conditions.
Sometimes mains water has a high chlorine content making it taste unpleasant (especially in tea). It's still safe, but you can improve the flavour by using a filter jug. Once filtered, the water should be used within 24 hours.
2007-01-15 22:18:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
UK ?
Yes there are more controls on tap water than bottled water, depending how far you live from the works will decide if the chlorine content is negligible or too strong, making the water unpalatable. The chlorine is added to prevent bacteria contaminating the water on its journey through the distribution pipework. The rising main has to be directly connected to the kitchen sink and this is the source of drinking water. Taste it and see - enjoy.
2007-01-15 22:28:25 · answer #4 · answered by Daddybear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and yes.
Tap water (for most locations) is under strict guidelines these days. Growing up, my cousins had a lot of iron in their well water, which you won't find anywhere in the US like that now. One of the problems with bottled water is that it doesn't have the flouride that our bodies need and we don't get much of in our daily diets. That's one of the reasons why it tastes so bland.
If you aren't sure about your city tap water, go ask your water provider what's in it. If your home has old water pipes, you may consider filtering it so you don't have stuff to chew on!
And if you live in Mexico, don't drink the water.
2007-01-15 22:21:38 · answer #5 · answered by c_a_m_2u 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I do. Normally, water tap is very highly control, so it's safe. The problem is generally the taste, that some persons don't like, but I've alway drank tap water, so I think I'm just used to the taste, cause it's my reference
2007-01-15 22:10:01 · answer #6 · answered by julie c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really just depends on the city where you are. I recommend that you find out what the water quality is like in your area. In Utah, the water was fine but when I moved to Phoenix the water was terrible tasting and then I heard on the news it had arsenic in it. Can you believe that arsenic? People murder people with arsenic its a deadly poison and its in the water. So if you are in Phoenix don't drink the tap water!
2007-01-15 22:14:57 · answer #7 · answered by blahblah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tap water in the UK is safe. Tap water, say in Africa and most parts of the Asian continent is not safe to drink, sometimes even after boiling. Bottled water everytime when you are travelling outside of UK, Germany, Switzerland and USA. is a safe guide!
2007-01-17 07:03:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well i`ve been drinking it straight from the tap for the last 20 years and i`m still here!!
2007-01-15 22:10:51 · answer #9 · answered by onlyme 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a general rule most tap water is safe to drink...However if you are traveling even locally the chemicals in water vary and can cause digestion problems ( which can manifest as dysentery ...diarrhea) therefore if traveling you may benefit from from drinking bottled water just to be safe. Who wants to spend their vacation touring toilets???
2007-01-16 14:42:00 · answer #10 · answered by tweedbfly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋