Many individuals have queried whether it is safe to drink tap water away from home in the UK, and generally the answer is yes. According to the powers-that-be in the UK, ta p water is safe to drink, so you can drink it at restaurants, shops, schools, sports facilities, hospitals, cultural venues etc.
UK tap water is subject to stringent quality requirements and there are many public drinking fountains dotted around that, although may have been vandalised, generally serve unpolluted drinking water, and in the 150 ears they have been around there have been no reports of outbreaks of diseases caused by drinking water from them. It is advised, however, that you let the water run for a bit first and refrain from touching the jet with your lips.
It is also safe to drink tap water in restaurants, and they cannot refuse to serve it to you because, in an attempt to combat binge drinking, all establishments that sell alcohol must provide free tap water for their customers by government edict. Many restaurants and bars also have water coolers that serve filtered, chilled drinking water.
Drinking tap water abroad is another story completely; in most countries, especially EU countries, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan have safe drinking water. Tap water in some other countries is fine to drink in the cities but be wary of drinking tap water in rural areas – it is best to seek local advice.
Approximately 30% of tap water in England and Wales comes from underground sources; for Northern Ireland this drops to 6% and in Scotland it is 3% – the balance comes from lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
Tap water in the UK is thoroughly tested water for approximately 50 different chemical and microbiological substances, and measured against standards set by law. According to authorities, UK tap Water is amongst some of the very best in the world.
Purchase bottled water cooler or purchase plumbed water cooler from Living-Water.
