Is London Tap Water Safe to Drink? A Complete Guide

If you are just moving in London permanently, or simply visiting for a few days, you might have many questions regarding the way live is in UK’s capital.

Whether or not you can safely drink tap water in London might not occupy a high position in your list of wonderings, but in reality it is a rather important question. Fortunately, everything you need to know about the UK water supply and what the situation with tap water is London in particular is a matter of public record and you can learn it before you arrive in the city. Or even if you are Londoneer, it would be a good idea to get familiar with the water quality before drinking.

British tap water is known for its high quality and safety standards, giving you one less thing to worry about and bringing you a step closer to experiencing the magnificence of London to the full by allowing you not to worry about what’s in your water bottle.

Where does the tap water in London come from?

When wondering whether to drink London’s tap water or go for bottled water while you stay in the city, it is crucial to learn where the tap water in London comes from. The short answer is that London’s tap water comes from the rivers – the River Thames and the River Lee in particular.

There are eleven pumping stations spread across the territory of the metropolis that pump the water needed for the London water supply. This is not radically different from the UK water supply in general. The concept of drinking, or even showering with Thames water might not be the most attractive one at first glance, even if you disregard the risk of harmful bacteria, but you should know that the Thames water goes through rigorous and environmentally friendly filtration and purification before it reaches the taps across London. The oldest water reservoir on the Thames was built in 1903, and the oldest one of the River Lee dates to 1866. The treatment the Lee and Thames water goes through makes sure it becomes safe for consumption. Even though Londoners use it for a variety of purposes, as much as half of it is utilized for bathing and flushing the toilets in the metropolis.

Why Does London Tap Water Taste Bad compared to that from a commercial water bottle?

You might be acquainted with the fact that tap water taste is bitter or simply put – bad. That is especially true if you compare it to bottled water that you can buy from the store. The reason for this is that in contrast to bottled water, tap water in London is purified with vast quantities of chlorine to eliminate all harmful bacteria and pollution. Even though some of the chlorine is being filtered before the water reaches the tap, it is impossible to remove it altogether. Despite the taste, London’s drinking water is safe and meets all safety regulations, but you might want to opt for bottled water if you can’t stand the taste of the tap water.

Is London Tap Water Safe to Drink and what is the tap water quality?

Setting aside the question of the taste, the water safety standards in London ensure that the tap water is one hundred percent safe to drink without further processing or purification. You might even be surprised to learn that overall, the UK tap water is rated as being among the highest tap water quality in the world. So, when you arrive in London, don’t worry if you wake up in the evening thirsty and your only option is to pour a glass directly from the tap. Even people with the most sensitive of organisms should not have any issue to meet their hydration needs using London tap water, thanks to stringent water supply regulations.

Ways that tap water is safer than bottled water

In reality, drinking bottled water exclusively can pose more health concerns than piped water. While both are considered generally safe to consume by the public, tap water in London is filtered, purified and tested for bacteria much more frequently than bottled water. That means that the unlikely scenario in which you drink contaminated water that makes you sick is more plausible if you opt for one of the brands of bottled water you find in the store. What is more, some varieties of bottled water are rich in calcium and minerals that make them unfitted for everyday use for some people.

On the other hand, the authorities go to great lengths to remove impurities from the water supply. Just make sure that you check your local authority’s website to make sure they have not put up a special warning about the tap water in the vicinity being temporarily unsuitable for consumption. In any other case, London tap water is perfectly safe for the environment and the human body.