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.
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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.
In some older hotels, tap water might be contaminated by lead pipes, Bartell added. If there's a boil water advisory at your travel destination, you can ask the hotel for bottled water or boil the tap water before drinking.
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.
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.
Drinking tap water is unlikely to significantly impact testosterone levels compared to the potential effects of plastic exposure. It's essential to clarify that the primary factors influencing testosterone levels are hormonal, lifestyle-related, and genetic, rather than the type of water consumed.
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.
OK—but which type of water is actually safer? In 1999, after a four-year review of the bottled-water industry and its safety standards, NRDC concluded that there is no assurance that bottled is cleaner or safer than tap water.
Switzerland. If you've ever been to Switzerland, it probably won't surprise you that the alpine nation is home to some of the world's cleanest tap water. ...
Mineral water and alkaline water may be some of the healthiest types of water because they provide your body with essential nutrients, but simply drinking safe, uncontaminated water should be your number one priority.
Another serious concern with hotel bathroom tap water is the possibility of a build-up of harmful bacteria and germs. Let's be practical here. The water in an unoccupied hotel room can stay stagnant in pipes for several days to a few weeks, making the water pipes a breeding ground for harmful microbes.
Still, “drinking water across California is largely safe,” according to the Pacific Institute. We'll look at the state of tap water in California and talk with experts about how to make sure your drinking water is safe.
Does tap water contain hormones? That's quite possible. Steroid hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, can end up in the surface water via wastewater. Water companies treat this water, after which it will flow out of your tap.
Very little of that estrogen actually makes its way into our taps, since most water-treatment systems filter it out along with other contaminants. A 2010 study determined that birth-control pills account for less than 1% of the total amount of estrogen found in US drinking water.
Moreover, the drinking water supply system was observed to show higher concentrations of testosterone, progesterone, estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethynylestradiol, primidone, diclofenac, triclosan, 4-octylphenol, and diazinon in tap water.
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.
Drinking water from your bathroom tap is alright if you have a mains connection in your bathroom. However, drinking warm water in the bathroom isn't advisable. This water will normally come from a storage tank or water heater, where it could have picked up dirt and impurities.
Nearly three-in-four people perceive their home's tap water as safe, according to a survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and nearly 80% trust their water utility.
What are the benefits of filtered water? Health: Many filters remove or reduce health contaminants that can be found in tap water which may include lead, copper, mercury and more. Check the packaging or contaminant chart to see whether the filter is focused on contaminant reduction vs. taste only.
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