It seems strange to ponder whether or not the water I have been drinking for tens of years is safe. Regardless, the age of social media has empowered the uprise of individual voices. Its through these voices that whispers tear through the internet like wildfire. Gone are the days that the six o’clock news spews propaganda that us at home deem gospel. Conflicting messages as to whether London tap water is safe to drink is no more apparent than a single Google search. My credentials? None. But, as an adult and a parent, health is at the forefront of my mind.
London Tap Water in General
London is one of the dirtiest places I have ever lived in, period. And, I have lived in the UAE, South East Asia, and Europe. The number of rats in London is absurd, and we all know they carry all sorts of diseases. In fact, I have read multiple hypotheses that state rats outnumber humans 3:1 in London. I am not exclusively pointing the proverbial finger at rats, however. But, the number of rats does, for the most part, shed light on the unsanitary state of our city. There is a scarcity of information as to whether rats have been in our tap water. But, there is governmental information that says we should be weary of our piping to our home due to rats.
You will have to excuse my rant about rats. But, therein lies a very valuable point: Should I trust councils to remove contaminants that could cause me issues?
The fact of the matter is that there are several council bodies that have failed to effectively stop contaminants in our water. As a Londoner born and bred, I find it laughable that our water is ok to drink. Have you seen the Thames? We are unable to keep, arguably, one of the most famous rivers in the world clean. Go on to read further that there are cancerous chemicals in London water and your head races.
How London Tap Water Compares (for me)
I am not a scientist, neither am I a connoisseur of tap water around the UK. But, like most of us, I like to drink water (alongside wine, beer, and any other alcoholic beverage). There is a wealth of information online, typically biased one way or another, about whether we should drink London tap water. So much information, in fact, that reading adds to the confusion.
For easy understanding, as I would need it be explained to me, there are several junctures that water can become contaminated. Contaminants can enter at the source, the water treatment facility, the pipes leading to our home, or our very tap itself. Scary right? If you are anything like me, I half expected to turn the tap on and have clean water. I had never guessed that each time I had consumed water from a tap I was rolling the proverbial dice. I mean, if I wanted a stomach upset or two, I would much prefer doner meat at 2am.
There is a distinct difference in the tap water in London to the tap water in Redruth. When I head back to the Cornwall homeland to visit parents and take the kids, I notice it. The clarity in the water is only matched by the taste. I assure you my parents glasses are no cleaner than my own (thanks dishwasher). But, seriously, there is a huge difference. My point about the checkpoints that our water encounters before reaching our taps is a consideration. Am I being cynical in suggesting that the underground piping systems in London could well have been neglected?
Hard Water Comparison
I am convinced there is a reason the designer bathrooms at uppidity establishments supply hand cream! Have you ever been a victim of washing your hands, and then feeling like you have just prayed on sandpaper? Thats the hard water.
London has one of the hardest supplies of water in the UK. After reading up on hard water I was surprised to learn that hard water can contribute to skin complications like eczema. My youngest son was born with extremely sensitive skin. Even as a one year old we had issues with using certain detergents and soaps. I had not once considered that the tap water in London could have been, in part, to blame for his complications.
Water hardness is quantified by PPM (parts per million) which is a measurement of mineral particles dissolved in water. Quick research outlined to me that around 65% of the UK water is classified as hard. So, washing with water in the UK, basically anywhere, could cause issues for my youngster. For us, it is a constant balancing act of managing skincare routines to ensure his eczema is under control.
Paying through the nose for London Status
A few years ago, my wife and I decided that we should move to bottled water. It was a noble suggestion at the time when water was around 50p for 2 litres. Now, as many of you will know buying a bottle of Evian can cost as much as £2.60 for 1.5 litres. The prices in London are considerably higher than anywhere else in the country I head to. But, the elevation of Highland Spring at most supermarkets is a consideration most normal people have. Unless you are blessed with insane wealth, you would have noticed the price hikes in the UK post covid. Now, as a family of four, our water bill would be somewhere in the region of £33 a week. That number is based on Sainsbury’s prices of £4.20 for six one litre bottles. My wife and I usually go through around 3 litres each and its fair to give both children a bottle a day each. £132 a month on water! Wow.
Many would consider bottled water as a justifiable expense against the consumption of potential lead and other contaminants. Me being me, I would just drink from the damn tap and roll the dice. But, as a loving father and husband, I have a responsibility to do what I think is right in the home. After going through the search maze online to find answers to a very simple question like: Is London tap water safe to drink? I am both worried and surprised about the lack of education around potential harmful contaminants in our water.
London Water Situation Conclusion
You may have expected to come to this point in my post and me present a solution to the eerie world if London tap water. In truth, I do not trust water in London. I have seen enough rats (sorry rats) in the River Thames and on undergrounds to last a lifetime. I have also seen the clarity of water in comparison to London elsewhere in the UK. London is not a clean city, regardless of the beauty that can be adored from the skyline. The pollution will not be controlled by governmental ULEZ regulations, and this is a visible effort to curtail our dwindling health. A magnanimous attempt to show willing to improve our lungs is not matched with the upheaval of ancient underground piping systems. Such is the cost to the government. As such, it has taken decades to have some effort of resolution on fundamentals that can be seen (like ULEZ). Can I trust that a liquid travelling miles in rat-infested pipes, without being seen, is a priority?
Tap water filters are something of a necessity, especially in London. Perhaps the UK. Other systems could potentially cost a household thousands of pounds in a retracting economic market. There is no doubt in my mind that we should do everything possible to try and negate the potential hazards our water poses. What do you think?
