Is Bathroom Water The Same As Kitchen Water? (The Facts!)
Most people argue that it doesn’t matter where you get it in the house as long as it’s clean water. To them, all water within the house taps is drinkable. But, is bathroom water the same as kitchen water?
Both bathroom and kitchen water have the same source, and so do toilet water and dishwashing water. They, however, differ in taste, temperature, and drinking safety as they take different routes.
Bathroom water, for example, takes the shortest distance from the water source, making it colder and somehow tastier but not necessarily safer. Kitchen water, in contrast, takes the longest route, which makes it warmer, thus less tasty but often the safer option.
Note, however, that it’s not a guarantee that kitchen water is always safer as its safety depends on the treatment and handling from the source.

So, Is Bathroom Water the Same as Kitchen Water?
Generally, all water in your house has the same origin. That includes bathroom water, kitchen water, toilet water, and even dishwashing water.
So, both bathroom water and kitchen water are the same as far as the source is concerned. The only exception is when you set up separate tanks for storing bathroom water and kitchen water.
Now, while bathroom water and kitchen water have the same source, they take different routes to reach your taps, and as a result, they differ in temperature, taste, and drinking safety, as I explain below:
a) Water Temperature
Generally, bathroom water feels cooler than kitchen water, and here’s why:
Before you can drink water from the kitchen tap, the chances are that you or someone else will use the bathroom and flush. That initiates the flow of water through your house’s piping system.
After that, you’ll likely wash your hands in the bathroom sink, and that continues the floor. If you choose to drink up at the bathroom tap, the water will feel cooler. However, that’s not the case if you decide to go to the kitchen tap and do it there.
The moment you get to the kitchen tap, the water will most likely have traveled a long distance, and so it’ll feel warmer.
Understandably, this works because kitchens are traditionally situated away from the primary source while bathrooms usually are near.
b) Water Taste
The location of the kitchen tap and the bathroom tap also influence the taste of the tap water. Since kitchens are traditionally situated further from the water source, the water travels the longest distance. By the time it gets to the kitchen tap, it feels warmer and less tasty.
On the flip side, bathrooms usually are near the water source, which means the water travels the shortest distance. As a result, bathroom water is likely to feel cooler, and the brain interprets it as tastier even if it’s not.
That explains why some people argue that bathroom tap water tastes better than kitchen sink water.
c) Drinking Safety
While bathroom tap water is likely to taste better, it doesn’t mean that it’s safer. Quite the contrary; most bathroom plumbing works depend on a storage tank that holds the water longer, thus less aerated.
With poor aeration comes bacteria and water viruses, and sometimes insects and other small creatures drown and die there, making the water unsafe.
The other issue is that the majority of old homes feature lead piping. The problem with lead is that it’s poisonous, and so any drinking water that runs through it is a safety concern.
Those reasons generally make bathroom water unsafe for drinking. That’s unlike kitchen tap water, which is likely to run from the source continuously, thus more aerated and doesn’t involve lead pipes.

Signs Your Tap Water Is Unsafe for Drinking and Kitchen Use
Here are the indicators that your tap water is undrinkable:
- Change of color – Pure water is colorless, and so any other color means the water is unsafe.
- Foul smell – Pure water is tasteless, and any odor means it’s unsafe.
- Odd taste – Likewise, pure water is tasteless, and so any funny taste indicates contamination.
Why Does Water from The Bathroom Taste Different from Kitchen Water?
There are different reasons why bathroom tap water tastes different. For one, a bathroom’s location near the water source means the water is likely to taste cooler.
The other reason is that bathroom water is likely to taste different due to contamination by soap and other chemicals you use in the bathroom.
Bathroom water may also taste different due to contamination by heavy metals like aluminum and lead.
And since the storage tank is not portable, the water could be contaminated with bacteria which may cause it to smell, thus displeasing in taste.
Moreover, there is the effect of chlorine which municipals use to treat tap water. Chlorine generally has a detestable taste, more if it’s in excess.
Why Does Bathroom Water Taste Better Than Kitchen Water?
Psychology comes into play here, and this is how it goes:
Generally, water takes a much longer route from the source to the kitchen tap than the bathroom tap. As a result, bathroom tap water is likely to feel cooler, which tricks your mind into thinking that it tastes better.
In contrast, kitchen tap water takes a long time from the source and thus often feels warmer and less tasty.

Is It Safe to Drink Bathroom Water?
It’s generally unsafe to drink bathroom tap water, and here’s why:
Firstly, moth bathrooms are dependent on a storage tank which often holds the water for long, thus less portable. If the water tank is less portable, it’s not well aerated and likely harboring disease-causing bacteria.
The tank may also provide a breeding ground for insects and birds, and some may even die, thereby drowning, making the water unsafe for drinking.
Secondly, most homes, more so older ones, feature lead piping work, and the metal (lead) is generally poisonous.
But overall, it shouldn’t concern you a lot if your bathroom pipework doesn’t involve lead pipes or a storage tank. If you have any doubts, treat the water as I explain next.
How Can You Make Bathroom Tap Water Drinkable?
While bathroom water is primarily unsafe, it doesn’t mean that you cannot make it drinkable. Here are two ways to make it safer:
a) Boil It
Municipal tap water contains chlorine, whose job is to kill water pathogens and make the water safer. Sadly, chlorine has an unpleasant taste, making the water less tasty.
However, you can get rid of the chlorine and still make the water safer and drinkable by boiling. Boiling kills disease-causing microorganisms, thus effective against municipal tap water.
So, consider boiling the water and refrigerating it for a colder feel.
b) Filter It
If boiling the water seems like a lot of work and you don’t have the to do it, consider fitting a modern filter system. This system integrates with the tap’s faucet and gets rid of contaminants and chlorine.
Even better, they are easy to fit and do not require any particular plumbing work.
One unique water filtration system that promises that is the Waterdrop WD-CTF-01 Countertop Filter System (View on Amazon).
This filtration system comes in a stainless steel build and employs a 5-stage filtration mechanism that eliminates up to 99% chlorine to give your water a better taste. It also reduces toxic heavy metals like aluminum and lead.
The better bit is that it comes in an 8,000-gallon capacity, which is more than enough to quench your thirst.

People Also Ask
1. Can I Drink Water from The Kitchen Sink?
Most kitchen water is treated, thus safe for drinking. There are, however, no guarantees because there could be some contamination along the way. To avoid the risk, consider boiling or filtering your kitchen sink water before drinking.
2. Can You Drink Tap Water from The Bathroom?
While it’s OK to wash your face and brush your teeth with bathroom tap water, it can be unsafe to drink it. That’s because bathroom tap water is more prone to lead poisoning, among other contaminants.
3. Is Toilet Water the Same as Kitchen Water?
The same water runs across all your household pipework. That means your toilet water and kitchen tap water have the same source.
That, however, doesn’t mean the two have the same quality and safety standards. Toilet water takes a shorter path and is often contaminated, making it unsafe.
4. Is Shower Water the Same as Sink Water?
Both shower water and sink water have the same source. That’s unless you have two spare storages, which is quite unlikely. However, due to following different routes, they taste different and have varying safety levels.
5. Is It Bad to Drink Shower Water?
Given that most shower systems are dependent on a water tank, which is often less aerated, the water is likely to attract pathogens, thus unsafe for drinking. Furthermore, most bathroom pipeworks are prone to lead poisoning, making the water unsafe.
Is Bathroom Water the Same as Kitchen Water? Closing Thought:
As discussed, bathroom tap water and kitchen tap water have the same source. But given that they follow different routes, they are likely to differ in taste, temperature, and safety level.
Generally, kitchen tap water is safer, but bathroom tap water creates the impression of being tastier.
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