Comments on: Don’t Drink This Tap Water

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:12:08 +0000

Ugh – this sort of thing makes me feel ill!

While I don’t particularly think bottled water is great environmentally, I drink it in work, because I don’t trust what comes out. Maybe I should print this blog out and show it to the powers that be, suggesting a watercooler!

By: Bombay Beauty

Bombay Beauty — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:04:54 +0000

Indeed, it has to do with water from the mains as opposed to stored in tanks. It may also have to do with the fact that water quality is checked only from faucets designated as drinking water. A lot of water quality issues in the US or UK have to do with the old pipes in the building.

But you’re right, here in the US no such distinction is made. I’m drink hizhonor’s finest by the gallon…

By: Faine

Faine — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:40:24 +0000

Love the sign. And yes, where the heck is scary water coming from in London? I’m here in New Orleans and I get iffy about tap water but we’re not exactly known for our hygiene..

I remember accidentally brushing my teeth with tap water a few times in India and China and wondering if I would mutate. Hasn’t happened yet.

You blog is making me want to go back to London (tap water or not.)

By: Sig

Sig — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:26:24 +0000

Wow, great site! Wish I had seen it before my London trip…

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:30:33 +0000

I wonder whether knowing that the water has rat dropping/dead pigeons in it is what causes us to get ill…

I’ve got a feeling that the more bugs we consume and still stay alive, the more immune we become to other nasty things.

My friends from school who lived in farm houses with animals running around hardly ever got ill, whereas the guys who lived in hermetically sealed houses always had sniffles and colds.

A few little baddies help to build up the immune system! That said… I’ll be drinking from the water cooler from now on!

By: Jonny

Jonny — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:09:19 +0000

I discovered a dead bird & *lots* of pigeon droppings in a water tank on the roof of an office building. The occupants didn’t sound too thrilled, especially as they had been using the water from that tank to make tea for years!

By: bob

bob — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:33:45 +0000

Its traditional for the kitchen tap to be fed directly from outside pipes where as other taps may come from storage tanks located in the attic or even on the roof. thats how birds can get in.

So kitchen taps are normally fine to drink from.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:03:55 +0000

Same thing at my office, though I think our situation is even more worrisome: The toilet on the third floor has a ‘not drinking water’ sign, but the one on the forth does not. Don’t all buildings have the same water pipes? :-/

Thank goodness we have a watercooler.