BEFORE you fill up your glass of water in your hotel room, you may want to think again.
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has urged holidaymakers not to drink tap water in their rooms, as two years of little-to-no use could have led to bugs and germs in the system.
2
Jérôme Logie, from theWaterDivision at NSF, has claimed that water supplies now pose a real risk to travellers that may not have existed previously.
While Logie was quick to remind people of the importance of remaining hydrated, he has told anyone going abroad to make sure their water comes from a safe and reliable source.
He said: “After such an extended period with low to no travel, hotels and theirwatersupplies now pose a significant risk to travellers, something many aren’t aware of.
“Waterand good hydration are essential, but there is a real risk from potentially lethal bacteria that can thrive in stagnantwater, such as in unused hotel pipes.
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"Add to that abuild-upof germs and varying international standards of filtration, and you can see why travellers must bewater-smart to ensure they can enjoy prettier sights than their hotel bathroom."
To help people avoid illnesses, the NSF has put together a list of top tips for stayingsafe when drinking water abroad this summer.
Don’t trust the tapwaterin your hotel bathroom
No matter how desperate you are for a cool drink ofwaterin the middle of the night, do not resort to drinking from the bathroom tap.
Hotel plumbing is a potential breeding ground for harmful microorganisms suchE.Coli, aswaterin unoccupied hotel rooms can remain stagnant in pipes for days, weeks or even months. After almost two years with limited travel opportunities, those heading away this summer should be particularly wary.
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Hot = good
Many hotels heat theirwaterto 55 degrees+ to kill any micro-organisms that might be present – which is why you will often encounter ‘Warning: hotwater!’ signs.
While you might be seeking a cooldown, this hotwaterwill be much better for your holiday enjoyment overall.
In larger resorts and hotel chains, companies have their own corporate standards forwatermanagement, and some even havewatertreatment facilities on-site to ensure quality, so the absence of a hotwaterwarning sign shouldn’t be a red flag, as long as travellers exercise their own caution.
Say no to tap water at restaurants
It's not just in your hotel room you need to be wary, but also the hotel restaurant.
While places like Europe have a very good safety record forwater, other countries may not.
To avoid encountering anywaterwoes, play it safe and make simple switches such as asking for bottled soft drinks rather than a jug ofwaterto accompany a meal.
Also, consider asking for drinks with no ice and steer clear of washed salads.
If it’s cloudy, it’s contaminated
Detecting bacteria in clearwateris impossible but never, ever drink cloudywater.
If you are travelling to a remote location where bottledwateris not available, certified devices and equipment can be used. For example:
Light strobes can kill bacteria
Portable filters can be used to remove heavy metals, as well as bacteria
Chlorine pills, although not perfect, can be a convenient way to make drinkingwatersafe
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Water might not be the only risky thing in a hotel room either, with experts also warning against using the safe while on holiday.
Meanwhile another expert has revealed which hotel rooms are the best to book to avoid a rough night's sleep.
Hotel plumbing is a potential breeding ground for harmful microorganisms such E.Coli, as water in unoccupied hotel rooms can remain stagnant in pipes for days, weeks or even months. After almost two years with limited travel opportunities, those heading away this summer should be particularly wary.
“Hotel water is often as safe as the public water supply where the hotel is located,” Bartell told Verywell in an email. “But some remote hotels have their own private water supplies, which are less regulated.” In some older hotels, tap water might be contaminated by lead pipes, Bartell added.
It is generally not recommended to drink water from the bathroom sink, as it may contain higher levels of bacteria and other contaminants compared to water from the kitchen tap. The bathroom sink is often used for activities such as brushing teeth or washing hands, which can introduce bacteria into the water.
Tap water is safe to drink in the U.S. thanks to national standards. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to regulate the public drinking water supply and protect the health and well-being of Americans.
Common chemical contaminants that could make their way into tap water include pesticides, industrial runoff, and toxic metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. Biological contaminants are things like bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
A commercial water softener seeks to remove these minerals from the water, so that all the water coming from taps and outlets in a hotel is “soft”. Here's why soft water is so beneficial to hotels.
Yes, tap water in Las Vegas is considered safe to drink. It meets or exceeds all federal and state health standards, as stated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Some standards that are required to be met include maximum lead content, disinfectant levels, and microbial contaminants.
Different filters remove different chemicals, but most will remove or reduce contaminants such as chlorine, iron, sulfur and bacteria. Filtered water often tastes and smells better, but isn't necessarily safer or better for you – in fact, some filters may remove the fluoride, which is beneficial for dental health.
If you don't have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing germs, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.
The 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act gave regulatory oversight of public drinking water (tap water) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). FDA has responsibility for ensuring that the quality standards for bottled water are compatible with EPA standards for tap water.
You can get water quality information from your town or county health department or your state environmental agency. Local water companies are required to report what is in the water each year.
Overall, both tap and bottled water are considered good ways to hydrate. However, tap water is generally a better option, as it's just as safe as bottled water but costs considerably less and has a much lower environmental impact. Plus, with a reusable water bottle, tap water can be just as convenient as bottled.
Finland is uniquely rich in surface waters, and ranks amongst the best in the world for its tap water quality. It is not only completely safe but a pleasure to drink, with legislation ensuring that water does not contain substances or organisms that could cause any ill-health.
Cons: Tap water can also pick up pesticides which have been washed into streams and rivers. Chlorine is added to tap water to help disinfect it, but it can react with fallen leaves to form a toxic byproduct. Even your own pipes can contaminate tap water with lead.
The water in Mexico faces challenges primarily due to inadequate infrastructure, industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, microbial contamination, and geographical factors. Microbial contamination, including bacteria and parasites, is widespread, leading to waterborne illnesses.
Most hotels provide bottled water or giant jugs of purified water for you to refill your bottle. Many resorts take this worry away from their guests by having their water purified on-site; if this is the case, there's usually a notice by the tap that the water is potable ("agua potable").
Illness: Common symptoms include diarrhea, gas, greasy stools (poop), stomach cramps or pain, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or dehydration (loss of fluids). Learn more.
Just a small amount of hardness will deem soaps and conditioners useless. Some hotels will install water softeners on the boilers which feed the entire facility. This takes care of the laundry, restaurants and blends the cold hard water with soft hot water in the hotel rooms.
The largest uses of water in hotels and lodging facilities are restrooms, laundry operations, landscaping, commercial kitchens, and heating and cooling.
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