自来水可以喝吗

Can tap water (cold water) in the UK be consumed directly?

Firstly, the hot water from taps in the UK is absolutely not drinkable, including the tap water connected to the hot water pipeline (cold water).

 

This is because the hot water comes from a storage tank where there can be a high presence of bacteria, making it unhygienic and unsafe to consume. The hot water also circulates for an extended period without regular cleaning and maintenance. The central heating system in UK households is also connected to this storage tank.

 

However, the cold water from separate cold water pipes or from the kitchen tap in the UK is safe to drink.

The cold water flowing from taps in the UK, which is also known as tap water, is sourced from the water pipes. UK tap water is not only safe but also one of the cleanest tap water sources in the world, even ranking ahead of tap water in the United States. In 1897, the town of Maidstone in Kent became the world's first city to treat its entire water supply system with chlorine to prevent waterborne diseases such as typhoid. 94% of people in the UK express satisfaction with their tap water source, and in blind taste tests, many individuals are unable to distinguish between tap water and bottled water.

The Quality of Tap Water in the UK

 

In fact, The Telegraph, a UK newspaper, published an article in 2013 suggesting that bottled water may not be as safe as tap water in the UK because it does not undergo the same rigorous testing. The UK conducts millions of tests each year to ensure that its tap water meets the standards set by the World Health Organization. In 2014, the compliance rate in the UK was 99.96%, 99.98% in Scotland, and 99.86% in Northern Ireland. In 2018, England and Wales had a compliance rate of 99.95%.

 

So, where does the tap water in the UK come from?

 

68% of the tap water in the UK is sourced from surface water, including reservoirs, lakes, and rivers. The remaining water comes from underground springs and aquifers. Whether you drink surface water or groundwater largely depends on the region you are in within the UK. Generally, tap water in Western Ireland and Southeast England (including London) comes from groundwater, while tap water in Central and Northern England, most of Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall comes from surface water.

 

Groundwater naturally contains more minerals, including high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese ions. This gives the tap water in the UK a "hard" feel, which may take some time for international students arriving in the UK to get used to. The perception of hair loss among some international students upon arriving in the UK may be mistakenly attributed to this "hard" water quality.

 

In contrast, softer water is typically found in more northern regions and is often praised for its pure taste, partially due to the UK's renowned wet climate. Frequent rainfall continually replenishes the country's lakes and reservoirs, ensuring that the water never stagnates.

 

The UK has advanced filtration processes, with slight variations between filtering surface water and groundwater. Surface water, having been naturally exposed to more environmental pollutants, requires additional steps. In sewage treatment plants, surface water is often stored in open reservoirs for several days to allow solid pollutants to settle at the bottom. Sunlight helps in the decomposition of organic matter and bacteria. Eventually, the water passes through metal screens to filter out floating objects such as leaves.

 

The treatment processes for both types of water are similar. A chemical coagulant is added to clump together sediment particles, making them easier to remove through filtration. Next, the water is aerated to remove unwanted gases, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, before passing through granular activated carbon (GAC) containers. These containers contain porous carbon particles that absorb organic compounds, improving water clarity. Finally, the water is ozonated to break down pesticides and then chlorinated to kill any remaining bacteria.

 

It may take several hours to days for the water to travel from the treatment plant to your tap. If there is a long distance to travel, the water may undergo ammonia treatment, where ammonia reacts with chlorine to create a more persistent disinfectant.

 

Although all tap water in the UK is considered safe, it is still important to keep in mind the following: 1) The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) advises avoiding the use of hot water taps as they are often connected to hot water storage tanks or heaters, which may not provide fresh water. 2) In very rare cases, cold water taps may be connected to private water sources or rainwater tanks. In such cases, hotels and public places usually label these taps as "non-drinking water," indicating the need to obtain water from elsewhere.

 

Occasionally, when water flows from the tap, it may appear cloudy. This is due to excess air, and if you let the water sit for a minute or two, it will quickly clear. If you travel to London or other southern cities like Oxford or Bath, you may find that the taste of hard water is not to your liking. Instead of purchasing expensive bottled water, consider adding mint, cucumber, or lemon to change the taste. Similarly, chilling tap water can eliminate the slight residual taste of chlorine from the treatment process.

What does the text above mean? It means that even the cold water from a dual faucet connected to the hot water pipe should not be directly consumed. Only the following water sources are safe for drinking:

1. Tap water in the kitchen can be consumed directly.

2. Water from a separate cold water pipe that is not connected to      the hot water storage tank can be consumed directly.

3. Tap water that is not connected to private water sources or      rainwater tanks can be consumed directly.

For example, in our school's JA Jaguar Teaching Building, there is a tap water source next to the toilets that can be consumed directly. It is a separate source similar to the cold water dispensers you can find anywhere in airports, unlike the hot water dispensers commonly found in Chinese airports. The image below shows that large shopping malls, airports, teaching buildings, and other places in the UK generally provide this kind of free tap water for drinking.

 

Free drinking water in South Korea

 

Here, let me remind you that in restaurants, bars, and other service establishments in the UK, if you ask for water, they will usually provide cold water by default. The cold water is mostly directly from the tap, although some restaurants may use mineral water or purified water, and they will specify whether it is free or for a fee (if the other party doesn't mention it, you can ask if it's free or not. Of course, if you don't mind the price, you can disregard what I, your friendly guide, just said and drink as you wish, boss!). So, if you want water and specifically want hot water, it's recommended to ask for hot water directly.

 

I'd like to remind you that water quality may vary in different regions of the UK. If you want to check the water quality in your specific area, please visit this official government website of the UK for more information.

：https://www.gov.uk/check-drinking-water-quality

If there are any issues with the water, you will be able to identify them through the aforementioned website. The water companies in the UK take over a thousand samples every day to ensure the safety of your tap water. If any risks or issues are detected, they will immediately notify the customers. In fact, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK recommends using boiled tap water for preparing baby formula.

 

Therefore, there is actually no currently established correlation between the water quality in the UK and hair loss, as identified by authoritative experts.

Sources:

Tap water: Todosobreelagua.com

London water:

http://Thameswater.co.uk

http://londonist.com/london/features/where-s-my-tap-water-from

Tap water inspection:

http://www.dwi.gov.uk/about/annual-report/2015/index.html

Water source by area:

http://ccwater.custhelp.com/

Londoners embarrassed to order tap water:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/bottled-vs-tap-water

Bottled vs tap water taste and quality:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3084016/

Recycling in U.K.: http://www.bpf.co.uk/sustainability/plastics_recycling.aspx

Recycling export:

http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2017/03/13/

Bottled water sales in the U.K.:

http://www.britishbottledwater.org/vital-statistics.asp

TAPP WATER

https://tappwater.co/us/can-i-drink-tap-water-in-london-and-other-parts-of-the-uk/

TRIPSAVVY

https://www.tripsavvy.com/is-london-tap-water-safe-1583358