Drinking tap water: what you should know about it

Those who do not want to lug crates like to use water from the tap. Tap water is generally of good quality in Germany. But there are some pointers you should know.

Drink water from the tap without hesitation

Tap water is not popular with everyone. Thanks to numerous disadvantages such as lead in water pipes and scandals such as increased nitrate levels and bacteria, many have lost confidence and prefer to use bottled mineral water. We will explain whether this effort is worthwhile and more facts about tap water:

• Nitrate in the groundwater: Liquid manure and mineral fertilizers that get into the groundwater and increase the nitrate value there have been a reason for many for many years to do without tap water. Thanks to modern filter processes, this can largely be removed.
• Drug residues and bacteria are also negligible and generally do not exceed the legally prescribed maximum limits.
• Only lead lines in very old houses can be a problem for your water supply. Your local health department offers controls to check whether your water is of drinking water quality.
• You should avoid water filters . These can do more harm than good if you don't clean them properly all the time.
• Hard water, i.e. water that contains a lot of calcium and magnesium, is also not harmful. These trace elements can be excreted by the body if they are excess.
• Incidentally, these facts only apply to Germany. In many other countries, you shouldn't drink tap water.

Facts about tap water

German tap water is absolutely harmless and even very healthy in most regions. In tests, tap water often performs even better than mineral water from the supermarket.

• Tap water is the most checked basic foodstuff - the checks are usually carried out daily by the respective treatment stations and the Federal Environment Agency.
• Mineral water, on the other hand, often does not deserve its name: Many mineral water was classified as "low in minerals" by Stiftung Warentest.
• Degradation products from pesticides and even uranium can also be found in mineral water, which can get into the water via the minerals.
• By the way, mineral water also has higher limit values ​​for the pollutants that may be contained in the water than tap water.
• The plastic of the mineral water bottles is not only bad for the environment, but also for ourselves. It has long been suspected that the liquid releases hormonally active substances.

Is tap water or mineral water healthier?

If simple tap water is too boring for you, we have presented you with healthy alternatives to water in another practical tip.