On 05 May 2006, Farooq wrote:

David P wrote:
I am in the UK. Is it generally safe to drink BOILED water from
the hot tap?

My hot water comes from a tank or cistern in the loft and this
feeds into a hot water cylinder which is in the house. It doesn't
look wonderful inside that tank in the loft but I reckon if I
BOILED the water then presumably I will kill the germs.

Is there another reason why I should not drink boiled water from
the hot tap? Maybe there are dangerous minerals and some other
chemicals found in the hot water system which are unsafe?



The germs would do low harm than the rust that might be coming from
the tank or the hot water cylinder. Chances of "toxic" mineral are
perhaps low since the main water supply is supposed to be quite
clean.


What about chemicals/metals/minerals getting into the water from
parts of the hot water system?

Perhaps the heat makes difference or perhaps the types of metal used
in boilers and their pipe joints makes a difference?

Do micro-leaks occur from the heating circuit (which passes through
the boiler's heat exchanger) into the hot water used for washing?