Is kitchen tap water different to bathroom tap water?
In Ireland, the cold tap water in the kitchen (note it is cold water!) can be drunk directly, but the tap water in the washroom/bathroom/toilet does not meet drinking standards.
The cold tap water in the kitchen is directly connected to the main water supply pipeline. The Irish water quality regulatory department regularly monitors the water source to ensure that it meets the "drinking water" standard and can be drunk directly. However, even if the water quality is up to standard, many foreigners in Ireland may be like me, still not used to drinking tap water directly. We either buy bottled water or boil the tap water before drinking it.
I remember that not long after coming to Ireland, I visited my colleague's house. My colleague asked me if I wanted tea or coffee. I said water would be fine, so my colleague unceremoniously turned on the tap, filled a cup of tap water and handed it to me. At that time, I didn't dare to drink it.
Later, my one-and-a-half-year-old son entered kindergarten. Parents were required to accompany him in the first week of kindergarten. When it was break time, I saw the teacher ask the children to line up, give each person a cup, and take turns to get tap water from the tap. I was helpless and sad at the time, thinking that my son could only drink tap water every day at such a young age. Later, I got used to it because every time I went out to eat, the restaurant provided tap water for free, and it was iced!
Whether hot or cold, the tap water in the washroom/bathroom/toilet is stored in a water tank. Most of the water tanks are placed in the attic or dark room. There are cold water tanks and hot water tanks. After passing through the water tanks, the water quality no longer meets the drinking water standard. In addition, the water tanks in some old houses are directly open and have no covers, so they are not suitable for drinking.
In addition, the hot water in the kitchen actually comes from the water tank, so it is not recommended to drink it.