There are many different places in a home where there is hot and cold water. Water from the kitchen is almost always used for drinking, but due to the fact that the supply of water is not visible, it’s interesting to know whether the water in the bathroom is the same as the water in the kitchen.
So, today I will give a full rundown of whether the water in different parts of a home is all the same.
As a general rule, bathroom water is the same as kitchen water. The water that comes out of the faucets in a bathroom and in a kitchen is the same. The water that comes out of the shower and fills the toilet is also the same as the water that comes out of the kitchen faucets.
The two exceptions are if you have a gray water system or a water filter installed in your kitchen. If you have a gray water system, you would know about it because it has special requirements.
Below, I will explain where the water that flows into a bathroom and kitchen comes from, whether the water that fills a toilet water tank is the same as what flows out of the kitchen faucet, and why in some cases water in the kitchen taste different from water that comes out of the bathroom faucets, and the showerhead.
Is Bathroom Sink Water the Same As Kitchen Sink Water
The bathroom sinks are used for brushing your teeth and washing your hands and face. Whereas water from the kitchen faucet is used for drinking and preparing food.
It’s not common to drink water from the bathroom sink, so this is whether bathroom sink water is the same as kitchen sink water.
Overall, kitchen sink water and bathroom water are the same. However, some kitchens are fitted with a water filter that is not visible. Or, they have one located on the countertop. But, the water that goes into a water filter in a kitchen is the same as the water that comes out of the bathroom faucet.
Every home has one pipe that supplies all the water to a home. This goes through a special valve called a water shut-off valve. Once the water enters a home, a plumber installs pipes that divert the water to different parts of the house.
Virtually all homes will have a hot water cylinder. Therefore, all the hot water in your home comes from a hot water cylinder. This is the only difference between hot and cold water.
With that said, all of the cold water comes from a single source and, in general, is not changed in any way when it is split into separate pipes to go to different parts of a house, such as the kitchen and the bathroom.
The main water shut-off valve is a critical part of a home. The reason is if there is a big leak, it’s necessary to turn the water off in a hurry. This can be done by turning the water shut-off valve into the off position. The water shut off valve is typically located in the basement of a home. But not always. Here’s a really good video that shows how to locate the main water shut-off valve in a home:
The pipe material used for your plumbing typically is not an issue
Some sources online suggest that for older homes, you need to be concerned about drinking water from the bathroom faucets or the shower head because some old homes can have lead pipes. Whereas, for reasonably modern homes, lead is not used.
Lead pipes have not been used in building construction since about 1986. And if you do have lead pipes, these would feed both the bathroom and the kitchen. So you would have an issue with drinking water regardless of whether you drink water from the bathroom faucets or the kitchen faucets.
If your home is older than 1986, it can be worthwhile inspecting your plumbing to see what kind of pipes you have throughout your home. Or, have a plumber inspect your home and tell you what material your pipes are made of.
Another option is to see the details of any permits that were acquired when the home was built. Or, renovations were done. These can have details about what types of pipes were used.
It’s somewhat common to have a water filter in a kitchen
Water can contain minor impurities. Water that supplies residential areas is regularly checked to ensure it’s safe to drink. There can be an issue with the city water supply, and a boil water notice is issued until it’s fixed.
However, it’s well known that filtering water improves the taste. 100% pure water is only H2O and nothing else. Although city water is safe to drink, it often contains a random assortment of minor impurities.
This alters the taste of the water and can give it a slightly metallic or unpleasant taste. Whereas, if water is run through a filter, many of these bad flavors are removed. As a result, water filters are very popular. If a water filter is installed in your kitchen the kitchen water is fundamentally different from the water than comes out of the bathroom faucets.
Is Toilet Water the Same As Tap Water
Water first fills up the water tank in a toilet, and then when you flush a toilet, the toilet water tank empties. The water that fills a toilet water tank is clear and cold, and it doesn’t seem that different from tap water. Therefore, here’s a summary of whether toilet water is the same as tap water.
As a general rule, toilet water is the same as tap water. But, in rare cases, a home or building will have a gray water system. In which case, the toilet water is recycled water from other parts of the building. In all other cases, there is no difference between tap water and toilet water.
If your home does have a gray water system, it is something that you will be aware of. The reason is that it requires special soap and often laundry detergent to be used.
There are a few different types of gray water systems, explained in this article by Valley Water. Some gray water systems are also manual, and you need to empty the gray water tank yourself into a nearby area.
So, if you haven’t been made aware of any special requirements when using water in your home, then it’s virtually guaranteed the water that enters the toilet water tank and then flushes the toilet is exactly the same as tap water.
Why Does Bathroom Water Taste Different to Kitchen Water
If you get really thirsty while in or near the bathroom, it’s easy to drink a few mouthfuls of water from the bathroom faucet. Typically, it’s more common for people to grab a cup and drink some water in the kitchen. But, if your bathroom water tastes different from your kitchen water, this is why that is.
In general, your specific home has a water filter that changes the taste, or a different pipe material is used to supply the kitchen and the bathroom. It’s somewhat common to have a water filter out of sight underneath the sink in a home.
There are a few different types of materials that can be used for the pipes in a home. PEX is commonly used, but steel, PVC, and ABS can also be used. As water flows through different pipe materials, is does change way the water tastes like.
A water filter needs to be changed a few times a year at least. But, you may not be aware that your home has a water filter because it’s located under the sink.
Water filters are FAR more common in kitchens than bathrooms. Therefore, it’s either the pipe material is different, or your kitchen has a water filter.
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.