# Would you drink the water that comes out of your hot water faucet, or cook with it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325 "2006-02-07T01:09:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/21 "2006-02-07T06:33:01Z")
> [@SeeNoReason](#): > > My SO wanted to add water to some veggies I was cooking. He turned on the hot water tap, filled up a glass with hot water and headed to the stove. I stopped him just before he poured the water in. I was appalled. :eek: > > Should I be? > > SO wants to know why. I always thought there was a reason not to use hot water from the water heater or the hot water pipes like bacteria growth, or build up in metal pipes that flakes off and slowly poisons you. I could’ve sworn that my parents or some teacher said it was bad. Or that it was just not done. Even when I make boiled potatoes or a pot of tea I start with cold water in the pot. I also use cold water for percolated coffee > > SO reasons that since the water is hot already, it will heat up faster, or in the case of the veggies, it won’t slow down the cooking time by cooling thats already hot. > > How do you feel about it? People never cease to amaze me. Imagine - worrying about the differences between the water that comes from the same faucet! I’m 38 years old, have drunk the warm/hot water (for I assume that ANY use of the hot tap would cause whatever horrendous condition is expected to arise - so even tepid water could kill ya) for all this time, at home, at whatever hotel, at my parents, etc etc etc for my entire life and this question _never_ occurred to me. Please… don’t tell the wife. I’m beggin’ ya. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/22 "2006-02-07T06:39:23Z")
> [@LunaV](#): > > I wish I could drink water from the tap, but I live in FL and it tastes absolutely horrid here. I do, however, cook with it, which brings me to the OP’s mention of hot water heating up faster beause it’s already hot. > Couple of years ago, I was cooking dinner with my chef boyfriend and I went to fill a pot with hot water for boiling. He asked what the hell was I doing, **didn’t I know about the sediment in hot water tanks** and anyway, cold water heats up faster than hot water. I’m used to just humouring him, but I thought I’d caught him in a lie when he mentioned that fact about cold water. Boy, was I wrong! He gave me this lecture about temperature and degrees and this point and that point - even broke out a pen, pad of paper and calculator to mathematically prove to me that cold water does, indeed, reach boiling faster than hot. > I don’t remember his explanation, but it convinced me at the time, and I always use cold water when cooking. **Bolding** mine. Question: The sediment is caused by water sitting in the tanks, allowing it (the sediment) to settle out of the water. If this is so, doesn’t this mean that a specific amount of cold water contains _more_ sediment than an equal amount of hot water that has been sitting in the tank for 24 hours? After all, the water that enters the faucet from the cold “side” is the same water that first enters the heater - the only difference is the amount of obvious residue. Conclusion: Don’t drink the cold water! :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/23 "2006-02-07T07:31:36Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > Hot water is more prone to dissolve lead from your plumbing. [The US Environmental Protection Agency](http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/leadfactsheet.html) recommends against using hot tap water for drinking or cooking. - Lead pipes? Are you living in a hundred year old house? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/24 "2006-02-07T07:38:09Z")
The OP, **SeeNoReason** , lives in a house built in 1912. This can be a concern for their family. My house, otoh, was built in 1998. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/25 "2006-02-07T07:53:01Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > It’s a lot easier to dry the dishes afterwards if you used hot water. Besides that, I find it’s harder to clean greasy stuff with cold water. I can’t believe I remember this, but a science fair experiment someone did when I was in elementary school, 40 years ago, showed that hot water made the soap work better. Never thought I’d use that piece of info again. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/26 "2006-02-07T13:39:19Z")
My office has a water cooler, but I prefer to drink the warm tap water. People often shudder about it, but I ain’t dead yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/27 "2006-02-07T13:50:10Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > - > > Lead pipes? > Are you living in a hundred year old house? lead pipes may not be all that common any more (especially in a hot water system), but lead solder has enjoyed fairly widespread use throughout the twentieth century. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/28 "2006-02-07T14:25:40Z")
I drink it hot from the tap. Any lead will protect me from the leaking radiation of the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/29 "2006-02-07T14:55:01Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > [He was wrong.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_101c.html) Cecil rocks! Finally, something I can wave in my ex’s face! He, of course, probably won’t even remember it… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/30 "2006-02-07T15:03:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > **Bolding** mine. > > Question: The sediment is caused by water sitting in the tanks, allowing it (the sediment) to settle out of the water. If this is so, doesn’t this mean that a specific amount of cold water contains _more_ sediment than an equal amount of hot water that has been sitting in the tank for 24 hours? After all, the water that enters the faucet from the cold “side” is the same water that first enters the heater - the only difference is the amount of obvious residue. > > Conclusion: Don’t drink the cold water! :eek: > > 😉 :smack: I just can’t win! Time to stock up on those free water bottles at work… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/31 "2006-02-07T15:57:51Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > - > > Lead pipes? > Are you living in a hundred year old house? I am - lots of people in the Northeast live in hundred-year-old (or older) houses. Is this unusual where you are? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/32 "2006-02-07T16:31:55Z")
> [@SeeNoReason](#): > > Anyway, this is New Jersey water we’re talking about. If I lived in Australia, Maryland, Massachusetts, etc., I don’t think I’d worry about it so much. Actually, in Massachusetts we have all the more reason to worry, because of the age of the housing stock. Apparently lead solder wasn’t banned until the '80s. My house, in addition to being Asbestos World, is full of it. Theoretically, after a few years or so, a protective layer of gunk builds up that creates a barrier between the water and the solder. But just to be safe, I never drink hot water from the tap, and in fact am somewhat paranoid about it. Here’s something else to worry about: "Household faucets may be another source of contamination. Chrome-plated faucets are generally made of brass, which contains 3 to 8 percent lead. " (From the engineering department at the University of Georgia.) ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/33 "2006-02-07T16:56:49Z")
I would not drink the stuff. To the guy who said we wash our dishes with hot water, sure, but that’s not the same as drinking a glass of the stuff. I’m not worried about GERRRRRMS, but I would like to keep my body free of heavy metals. My house was built in the 70s so I think this is reasonable. Also, my parents told me never to do it so it feels funny when I do. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/34 "2006-02-07T18:38:50Z")
> [@SeeNoReason](#): > > How do you feel about it? It’s good enough to wash the dishes I am cooking and eating out of… ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/35 "2006-02-07T18:39:56Z")
> [@FlyingRamenMonster](#): > > I would not drink the stuff. To the guy who said we wash our dishes with hot water, sure, but that’s not the same as drinking a glass of the stuff. I’m not worried about GERRRRRMS, but I would like to keep my body free of heavy metals. My house was built in the 70s so I think this is reasonable. Also, my parents told me never to do it so it feels funny when I do. Note to self: Read complete thread before butting in. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/36 "2006-02-07T22:23:14Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Here’s something else to worry about: "Household faucets may be another source of contamination. Chrome-plated faucets are generally made of brass, which contains 3 to 8 percent lead. " (From the engineering department at the University of Georgia.) Or to not worry about. The contact time between running water and your faucet is negligible. No contact time, no lead transfer. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/37 "2006-02-07T22:29:17Z")
I’d be much more concerned about the effects of hot tap water on the _glass_ than on me… ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/38 "2006-02-08T01:29:53Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > The EPA recommends against using hot tap water for cooking? Sure, but inherent in that recommendation is the assumption that the pipes have lead in them in the first place. So it’s a CYA from the EPA. If you have new piping, this recommendation is pointless. > [@US EPA](#): > > Lead is rarely found in source water, but enters tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. However, new homes are also at risk: even legally “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. > [@US EPA](#): > > You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key), if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry, **or if your non-plastic plumbing is less than five years old.** (bolding added) Personally, I’ll stick with the cold side for drinking & cooking. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/39 "2006-02-08T03:22:14Z")
So, I see a number of folks who are concerned about lead contamination in their drinking water. Have any of you actually had your water tested for lead? If your behavior is being driven by a perceived danger, why haven’t you tried to determine your actual level of risk? Water testing kits cost only a few dollars, and it could potentially put your minds at ease. Now, I don’t drink or cook with water from the hot tap because that water has run through the water softener. Our municipal water is quite hard, so the softened water ends up with quite a bit of sodium in it, and I would just as soon keep my incidental sodium intake down. And yes, I’ve had the water tested. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-drink-the-water-that-comes-out-of-your-hot-water-faucet-or-cook-with-it/343325/40 "2006-02-09T02:00:50Z")
> [@Twoflower](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by US EPA > However, new homes are also at risk: even legally “lead-free” plumbing may contain up to 8 percent lead. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures which can leach significant amounts of lead into the water, especially hot water. > > Quote: > Originally Posted by US EPA > You should be particularly suspicious if your home has lead pipes (lead is a dull gray metal that is soft enough to be easily scratched with a house key), if you see signs of corrosion (frequent leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry, or if your non-plastic plumbing is less than five years old. This is CYA from the EPA. [About lead from copper piping,](http://www.copper.org/environment/e_p_lead.html) > [@](#): > > Reasons For The Ban > > The basis for the public health concern is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead in drinking water established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA has set this MCL at 50 parts per billion for drinking water. This is a very tiny amount of contamination by lead – .000005%. The practical result of this extremely low limit is that some drinking waters which are soft, acidic and have low alkalinity can pick up (leach out) this much lead from any solder which is exposed to the water inside the plumbing system. **Studies by EPA and others have shown that in the rare instances where conditions are such that lead pick-up occurs, it generally tapers off to a low level quickly after a new plumbing system is put into use, and also that it is almost always associated with long periods of stagnation of the soft, acidic water inside the plumbing system.** > > The Water Treatment Option > > Lead pick-up can be avoided by treating a soft, acidic, low alkalinity water to make it non-aggressive. MCL’s are enforceable at the consumer’s water faucet. EPA’s position is that the water supplier is responsible for the lead content at that point, even though the lead is picked up from the plumbing system within the home or other building. EPA believes that the water supplier should provide water that is non-aggressive with respect to plumbing systems. In some communities (e.g., Seattle, Washington), this obligation has been recognized and public water supplies are treated with lime or soda ash to control pH and alkalinity and insure against lead pick-up in the system. Note that the bolded portion matches up to the EPA blanket statement about being very very afraid if your plumbing is less than 5 years old. And from the [MA Water Resource Authority](http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/01news/2005/120105mwraleadtestimony.htm) > [@](#): > > Individual results provide a snapshot of what is happening in an individual house when the water has sat stagnant. Because the sampling protocol is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion control, the results don’t provide real information about the water a typical customer would typically drink. We sample only the homes most likely to have any lead, and then sample that stagnant water most likely to have leached any lead. Most consumers don’t actually consume that stagnant water. Water utilities are required to test regularly for lead. On the MA site above, a chart shows you that the action level is 15 ppb, well below the mandated 50 ppb limit. As stated above, they are required to test worst case scenarios, which are in older homes with stagnant water. The vast majority of tests reveal lead below action levels. I am not sure where you got your EPA quotes, but the 8% lead in “plumbing” refers only to brass fixtures or valves. Even if your fixtures are not old enough to be passivated by the water, Lead is not a magical demon. If it leaches out of your faucet overnight, the contaminated water is right at the faucet and is flushed out with the first flow of water. The amount of lead leached from the hot water tap would be almost identical to the amount leached at the cold water tap because water sitting at the faucet overnight is going to be the same temp on either side. So you would in fact be safer from a lead perspective to drink only hot water and only after it has gotten hot at the tap than you would be if you drank cold water but drank the water that came first out of the tap in the morning. If you live in a house which has old enough plumbing that you are in fear for lead contamination, you should get it checked whether you drink from the hot or cold side. Then once it is checked, odds are good that you will find you can drink from either side with impunity. Even old houses may not be at risk due to the lead solder being passivated or due to having galvanized steel piping instead of copper! 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