Drinking tap water

[semi-pro waster]

In answer to the original question as far as I'm aware there isn't a region of the UK (i.e. a county) where the water is unsafe to drink as a general rule although of course there may be more localised problems but I'm sure it would be clearly noted.

I've certainly drunk tap water from quite a few locations in the UK and suffered no notable ill effects from it, some tastes better but I've not found anything undrinkable. Nothing tastes as good as the water in my parents house or even the burn outside though - tastes fantastic and icy cold all year round.

 

[laiman]

Love the tap water up here I find it actually tastes better than most spring water! Often find the taste a bit odd down south but nothing undrinkable.

 

[manic111]

This.

I'm yet to find a brand of bottled water that doesn't taste nasty compared to tap water.

Tap water tastes grim compared to any half decent bottled water - just tastes of chemicals!

I tend to whack all of mine through a Brita filter, although that's mainly because I like it really cold from the fridge.

 

[Zenun]

I've been told not to let tap water stand for a while or it goes bad and grows algae or something.
I used to be sceptical about drinking tap water, but recently i've been counting the pennies and I find it pointless to drink bottled water at home.

Also, I'm sure there are water regulations on what leaves the water companies, I guess it could depend on your piping/taps.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I've been told not to let tap water stand for a while or it goes bad and grows algae or something.
I used to be sceptical about drinking tap water, but recently i've been counting the pennies and I find it pointless to drink bottled water at home.

Also, I'm sure there are water regulations on what leaves the water companies, I guess it could depend on your piping/taps.

Standing water brings health risks from Legionnaire's, and yes it's covered by law.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20003184.htm

See section 4.

 

[arknor]

I have no problems drinking my tap water, it tastes absolutely fine and only *insert dirt cheap price from water company here*

i dont understand people who cant drink tap water in the UK tbh, wasnt there a test not so long ago and tap water came out cleaner than most of the bottled rubbish that has aparently beeing purified by gods breath as its filtered through volcanic rock and all that other rubbish

 

[schumi84]

The stuff around here (Epsom) is pretty damned nice, more so than up north as my GF is from Halifax originally and couldnt stand the tap water.

TBH if it's wet and from the mains then i'll drink it

 

[Windle]

The warning to not drink water outside the UK is for 2 reasons.

1. Some countries don't treat water sufficiently and therefore it can be dangerous

2. Water sources abroad can have types of bacteria in it that your stomach isn't used to. This causes a dodgy stomach without being harmful until you adapt. Locals drink it from birth and therefore are used to it.

Water in the UK is very clean, the standards are very high. However, as a ner ner ner I know some treatment works in Scotland where the source is so clean that it is only run through a simple screen filter before entering distribution.