Can You Really Drink Bathroom Water? What You Should Know

Older homes, however, can be a different story. Houses built before 1986 may still have lead pipes or aging materials that affect water quality—especially water that sits in the pipes overnight. If you’re unsure, a simple home test kit can quickly tell you what’s in your water. Even with safe plumbing, bathroom water might taste metallic or stale because those pipes are used less often.

Another reason people hesitate: many homes only filter the kitchen water. So even though the source is the same, the bathroom tap often misses the extra purification. And just to clear up a common myth—your sink and toilet do not share the same water. Toilets refill with the same clean tap water used throughout the house.