Every living thing needs to drink water, and humans are no exception. Thirst can be a very strong sensation for us, and when we feel it, we look for the nearest water source to quench that thirst. Most of the time, your location determines the nearest water source. So, if you’re indoors, you might head to the kitchen sink, but if you’re out in the yard, can you drink from the garden hose? Is tap water the same as hose water? If it is, can we drink hose water?
Hose water and tap water come from the same source, usually the municipal water supply. Running water through a hose can change the quality of the water because the hose is not necessarily a clean place, so you shouldn’t drink directly from a hose. Instead, use a cheap hose filter.
Hoses are often made up of toxic chemicals like lead and bromine, which contaminates the water that flows through it. Furthermore, drinking from a hose also puts you at risk of consuming dirt or other unwanted substances. However, if you must drink from a hose, you can try to reduce the risk with a few techniques. Let’s take a look at your options.
Sink water and hose water come from the same source. The water that passes through your local water treatment plant is the one that goes through your neighborhood’s underground pipes and later flows into your house before splitting in different directions (such as toward your sink or hose).
Still, even though the water comes from the same source, the channels through which it passes aren’t the same. The water that flows in the sink’s direction passes through pipes manufactured with safeguards designed to evade any form of contamination, thereby making the water safe for drinking.
Meanwhile, the channel through which the water flows to the hose is, as we mentioned, mostly made with brass or lead, and those are harmful to the human body. Not to mention the actual hose, which is made of some synthetic rubber or vinyl that routinely bakes in the outdoor sun and is open to the outdoor environment of bugs and dirt.
Is It Safe to Drink Out of a Water Hose?
It’s not safe to drink water from a garden hose. One of the reasons why a garden hose isn’t suitable for drinking is because its water is likely to be contaminated with different bacteria and molds.
Another major reason water hose is not safe for drinking is that hoses are made of toxic chemicals like lead, bromine, antimony, organotin, phthalates, etc. These chemicals mix with water every time it runs through the hose, making it poisonous and unsafe to drink. They can harm the delicate organs of your body, and treating these ailments means more money and time wasted.
The fact that the water from a water hose isn’t safe for drinking also means that it’s not necessarily safe to be used for the plants in the garden. Contaminated hoses can also be bad for your plants.
So, how do we reduce or try to eliminate the chances of these harmful chemicals mixing with the water? Here are some tips:
Allow the Water to Run Through the Hose: Water that remains within the hose for longer is more likely to be contaminated. This is because the toxic chemicals like chlorine and lead would have leached into the water, making it poisonous. Therefore, it’s advisable to allow the water to run for a while before using any of the hose water. That way, the toxic materials can flow away with the water.
Keep the Hose in a Dark Place: In the presence of sunlight or heat, the rate of polymer decomposition is increased. In the case of a garden hose, any form of heat, such as sunlight, causes the leaching of toxic materials into the water. It’s advisable to keep your hose in a dark, cool spot to slow down its degradation rate.
Be Careful With the Fixtures: The channel through which the water passes before reaching the hose must also be considered. Many homes use metal fittings because of their durability, but this metal material also contaminates the water. To safely drink hose water, you should ensure the channels through which the water passes are designed to avoid contamination.
Use a Safer Hose: Not all hose types are manufactured with harmful chemicals. There are natural rubber hoses that are safe for drinking water (drinking hose). This type of hose is often labeled “low environmental impact” or “safe for drinking.” If you think you’d need to drink hose water at some point, this is the kind of hose you should use. Besides drinking, you should opt for low environment impact hoses because they help keep the atmosphere safe and protected.
What Is a Drinking Hose?
A drinking hose can be described as a type of hose that is specially designed for the purpose of delivering clean drinking water. As we mentioned above, this type of hose is mostly made of natural rubber and is free of toxic chemicals like lead, phthalates, and BPA, so you can be sure there will be no leaching of chemicals into your drinking water.
Absolutely! Hose water filtration using a cheap filter like this one (on Amazon) is one of the safest measures you can take to reduce the harm caused by drinking hose water. Filtration helps remove many unwanted chemicals, metals, and minerals that may be harmful when present in the body.
To filter your hose water, you’ll need to use either an inlet water filter or a garden hose filter. To achieve the best results, the filter should be added directly to the source (tap water) or the end of the hose, depending on the type of attachment you’re using.
There are different types of hose water filters used today; however, there are certain features every filter must possess, like the carbon cartridge that helps remove toxic chemicals like chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes even metals like lead. Ion exchange technology is also ideal for removing algae, bacteria, lime scales, mold spores, and many other chemicals.
It’s very important to use filters for water hoses, as it helps protect them from toxic chemicals and improve the quality of your water.
