Why it might not be safe to drink water from your upstairs tap…

Are you thirsty at night?

Please note that it may not be safe to fill a glass of water from the overhead tap.

This is because, depending on your home, your bathroom faucets may be fed by a storage tank that is not considered safe for direct drinking. of.

It may not even be wise to brush your teeth because of the same risks.

Many older properties get their water from above from storage tanks located on the roof or in the attic.

Water from more modern versions of these tanks is generally considered safe to drink, provided they have been properly installed and maintained.

But the same is not necessarily true for older models, according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the government regulator.

Some, for example, are too large, which means that the water contained inside can “sit” for too long.

While that water is perfect for washing your hands, this may mean that it is not technically “fresh” enough to drink safely.

Water sitting for long periods of time may be at greater risk of contamination, either from bacterial growth or materials leaching from the container.

While this is very unlikely to make you sick, the risk is not zero and such contamination could also affect the taste.

Other tanks are made of traditional metals that can rust over time, resulting in bits of metal in the water, albeit in small amounts.

Newer models will be constructed of plastic to avoid this.

Modern tanks also follow stricter standards, such as having filters to keep out bugs and dust and not being installed near heat sources that can cause water to spoil more quickly.

So how can you check if the tap water in your upstairs bathroom comes from a tank or if it’s connected to the mains?

The DWI says the easiest way to find out is to turn the faucet all the way on and place your thumb under the faucet.

If it can hold all the water this way, it is likely to be powered from a tank rather than the mains.

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