A few of us over at Cooks Talk are having a discussion about the potability of the normal domestic hot water supply in a typical home. I’ve asserted that DHW is non-potable but cannot find a particularly good source to support my assertion. I’m sure that you guys here know more about this than I do. What can you tell me?
If you’re interested, the conversation on this topic is here: http://forums.taunton.com/tp-cookstalk/messages?msg=45609.10 and started as a discussion of a cooking show (Top Chef Masters). A famous chef on the show re-heated cooked pasta by running it under the hot water in a shower (he was cooking in a dorm room as part of the show’s challenge).
Maybe we’ll find direction, around some corner, where it’s been waiting to meet us.
Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible
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I do not think that will find a definitive source. There is quite a bit of debate concerning the temperature setting of a tank type water heater. Scald protection vs microbe elimination.
It is quite possible that in a home with the setting lower than 140 degF and extended periods of limited/no use, that indeed the water from the water heater storage tank may no longer be potable.
In any municipal water supply there is a low residual of the oxidizing disinfectant (i.e. chlorine or bromine, typically) at the point of use. This is why you have to treat tap water before you put it in the fish tank. That oxidant will serve to keep most regularly used systems free enough from bugs to be considered potable anywhere on the planet, even if the DWH is foolishly set below 140 degrees. On a priavte system, there is no such protection and private wells do regularly get infected.
I've never heard this one before, nor can I think of any reason why you couldn't drink it. It's from the same source. The microbial issue is typically legionella, which is transmitted by inhaling contaminated mist, so it would stand to reason that if it's safe to shower in the water, it would be safe to drink. I'm no doctor...though I do shower every day and have yet to get legionella :)
IT REALLY IS MORE OF A QUESTION OF QUANTITY rather than if there may be any pathogens present. Also the manor in which there is uptake is paramount. For example Salmonella is readily present, but for an average healthy adult a few thousand of them critters is not usually going to overwhelm the immune system. I have come accros bio-films in large diameter copper cold water supply lines on several occasions? Just what was in that slime?
I can't give you a definitive reference. What I understood (in addition to possible bacteria/freshness issues) was that hot water was a better solvent than cold water and hence more likely to contain impurities.
You lose. It comes out of the same spout as the cold.
Potable and palatable are seperate issues.
It comes out of the same spout as he cold; however, many people let the the cold water run sufficiently to wash out any leftover hot water as well as the vast majority of any remaining impurities. And, in any case, I've definitely read advice to that effect (no, I don't have a citation handy).Maybe we'll find direction, around some corner, where it's been waiting to meet us.
Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible
Whatever impurities are being "flushed" are still considered potable.
It ain't gonna kill you.
The air you breath is LOADED with fungi, bacteria, viruses, mold spores, etc, both dead and alive. It is still considered clean air.
Relax. Grab a bottle of water and chill. BTW, in most places, city supplied water is as good or better quality than the bottled stuff.
But like I said potable and palatable are two different things.
Now, here is how you win the arguement. The fixtures in the bathroom are not considered to be "potable".
A basin is found in the bathroom, a sink is in the kitchen. Basins have overflows, sinks don't, all sorts of nasties grow in overflows. Bacteria and mold counts can be extreme in bathrooms. (I'm a plumber, trust me on this one.)
Sinks are for food prep, and cleaning dishes, not for cleaning mops, bathing cats and kids, doing laundry. You don't make soup in the mop pail.
I'm not worried about getting killed - the conversation was mostly theoretical. A guy warmed pasta in a college dorm shower using the hot water (the pasta was in a collander).
And I'm aware that in most places city water is as good as or better than bottled (though I recently ate in a restaurant in the town in which I live where the water had a definite sour taste. We have fine water at home. They ended up comping me a bottle of fancy still water.).Maybe we'll find direction, around some corner, where it's been waiting to meet us.
Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible
When I heard this it was an issue of hot water leaching more lead out of soldered pipes and I called BS.
Why did they discontinue the use of lead-based solder for plumbing?Maybe we'll find direction, around some corner, where it's been waiting to meet us.
Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible
California.
Not to discount the hazards of lead, but.... it's my understanding that after a short period of time, any lead that may leach has leached and there is a coating over the pipe/joint.
There is still many lead service pipes in use in North America. But if you look at those pipes they all have a coating on the inside.
I think lead-based solder has been discontinued mostly because of the workers doing the soldering and breathing it. For a long time plumbers and hobbyists were not wearing respirators.
Of course, we're glad to be around lead when getting x-rayed, or upon entering through a beautiful leaded glass door. We just don't want to ingest it.
The domestic water in a house is potable by definition. There is no distinction between hot and cold? if the cold water supplied to the hot water heater is potable why would heating make it non potable? it is in a closed system which should not be subject to contamination until it comes out of a plumbing fixture.
I've also been told not to use hot water for cooking due to lead leaching.
Old wives tale perhaps?
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Old wives tale perhaps?
Looks like that's what I'm learning.Maybe we'll find direction, around some corner, where it's been waiting to meet us.
Without coffee, chocolate, and beer, in that order, life as we know it would not be possible