Water in train sinks "not drinkable"

[fowler9]

Don't have to tell me I do plumbing/gas work for a living!
Yes its to do with low pressures, if the main is not sufficient to keep all the taps in the house running at the same time then youl more than likely have a CW Storage Tank in the attic providing gravity fed water(which gives more pressure)

I didn't realise the reason was low water pressure. I work in housing and we have properties spread right across the country, from pretty much the south western tip right up through England and Wales up to the borders and most of our properties have a cold water storage tank. I would have been surprised to find out that most of the properties across those diverse areas suffer from low water pressure.

 

[Be3G]

I guess the thing is that you wanting water to drink on, for example, a train, is an entirely personal choice and the business premises that you are on has no requirement to supply you free with your personal choices

That may sound argumentative but it's not meant that way, can you expect any business to supply you free with something they have to pay for unless it's a choice they actually make at the expense of their bottom line

I do see what you mean, don't worry. The way I look at it is that the sleeper train is more of a travelling hotel, and for me a basic expectation of any hotel in the UK is drinkable tap water – so its absence on the sleeper is notable to me. I completely understand why it is absent, but that doesn't mean I don't wish it weren't. (Oops, don't trip over the triple-negative there…)

 

[Senshi]

I didn't realise the reason was low water pressure. I work in housing and we have properties spread right across the country, from pretty much the south western tip right up through England and Wales up to the borders and most of our properties have a cold water storage tank. I would have been surprised to find out that most of the properties across those diverse areas suffer from low water pressure.

Its not the only reason, older properties tend to have CSWTs due to the fact if there was a main pipe burst they would still have a supply of water and not completely cut off, and some older houses with pumped showers need a storage feed so the pump inside them can operate, but properties with low pressure will have a tank with a pump on the inlet simply because the height of the tank and the weight of the water combined with gravity gives more pressure.

 

[fowler9]

Its not the only reason, older properties tend to have CSWTs due to the fact if there was a main pipe burst they would still have a supply of water and not completely cut off, and some older houses with pumped showers need a storage feed so the pump inside them can operate, but properties with low pressure will have a tank with a pump on the inlet simply because the height of the tank and the weight of the water combined with gravity gives more pressure.

Nice one, thanks for the info, apologies for straying off topic by the way.

 

[JohnB57]

I completely understand why it is absent, but that doesn't mean I don't wish it weren't. (Oops, don't trip over the triple-negative there…)

Triple negative plus subjunctive. My head just exploded.

 

[ess]

Most of the taps in the office are marked as not drinking. It's quite common - UK building codes are very strict over what can be drinking water. It's why we have two taps at our sinks when the rest of the world has mixers

Really? I thought it was just British people being old fashioned or lazy builders.


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[Michael.Y]

Really? I thought it was just British people being old fashioned or lazy builders.

It's a matter of aesthetics and personal choice as much as anything else. I prefer having two taps. No fun pouring a glass of squash with the first glug being warm water left behind in the tap; similarly pointless wasting half a cup for the sake of waiting for it to cool down.

I won't drink out of any tap - home, work, train, otherwise, that isn't marked as drinking water or that I know is safe. Using water in conjunction with soap to clean your hands after a widdle is one thing. Consuming it is another. I've had some serious stomach cramps after drinking slightly off water before now.

Any on-train-caterer worth their salt should offer water for tablets - if not the whole bottle then certainly a cupful, enough to take the tablet but not so much that they're essentially getting a free drink. Same with hot water for Lemsip etc. Some even offer it for babies' milk. I think if you make a reasonable request explaining your needs you should be accommodated, as opposed to marching up to a buffet or trolley and demanding, shouting about rights and quoting legislation etc.

Of course there will be circumstances where it's not possible... for example some trolleys have the exact number of heat-proof cups for the total possible drinks on their trolley, for example and must account for them all at the end of trade; thus they will have been told by their bosses that they cannot accommodate such requests. Similarly trolleys with hot water pots, as opposed to freshly drawn water from a boiler, may not be ideal for babies' formula.

It's a train at the end of the day, not a Pizza Hut or a Starbucks. It'll be able to do some things, and other things you must not expect or demand entitlement.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have often drunk the cold tap supply on the Caly when in a berth, often because if im in one and on the sleaper then another long day awates so tend to pinch the complimentary bottle for when im not somewhere with a cold tap. I think though that this should be ok though as unlike the local service you could well find yourself on once leaving the sleaper you know that the beds have been serviced and watered and are done daily. You dont have guarantees like that with an *insert name of London BASED TOC* OR ON A scotrail sprinter.↲

 

[jopsuk]

On most trains (other than the sleeper) the water is supposed to be (even if it isn't) warm, anyway, for handwashing.

 

[bb21]

I do see what you mean, don't worry. The way I look at it is that the sleeper train is more of a travelling hotel, and for me a basic expectation of any hotel in the UK is drinkable tap water – so its absence on the sleeper is notable to me. I completely understand why it is absent, but that doesn't mean I don't wish it weren't. (Oops, don't trip over the triple-negative there…)

You'll just have to do what I do and bring a bottle of Tesco's Value water on with you, at a princely sum of 20p.

 

[Qwerty133]

Of course there will be circumstances where it's not possible... for example some trolleys have the exact number of heat-proof cups for the total possible drinks on their trolley, for example and must account for them all at the end of trade; thus they will have been told by their bosses that they cannot accommodate such requests.

One had a small hole in and couldn't be used, or similar would be my choice in said situation.

 

[Be3G]

Triple negative plus subjunctive. My head just exploded.

It's nice to know that what I write has an impact on people.

You'll just have to do what I do and bring a bottle of Tesco's Value water on with you, at a princely sum of 20p.

That's useful to know actually; I had no idea that Tesco do Value water!

 

[JohnB57]

It's nice to know that what I write has an impact on people.

You're welcome. So did your "Ooh Danone" avatar actually so double whammy.

 

[Tom B]

I believe that licensing rules don't apply to trains (or apply differently) hence the water not being provided for free. It is ironic that when LUL put out tannoys about having water with you, they do not provide a fountain on the station!

However, any licensed premises must provide potable drinking water and cannot charge you for it, or charge you for the "service" of the glass, the ice etc. I believe it has been argued that you need not purchase anything else for this to apply.

 

[Jonfun]

One had a small hole in and couldn't be used, or similar would be my choice in said situation.

Yes, but you'd still then be missing the cup when it came to reconciling everything surely?

 

[Flamingo]

I know the water in the HST kitchens is treated by going through an UV light, this has an LED indicator in the kitchen, and no water (even boiling from the still or coffee machine) can be used if the check light is red. Also, the storage tank is treated in the depot once a month.

In contrast, the toilet storage tanks have 35 years worth of sludge in them!

Hot water is not given for free unless for medicine (eg Lemsip), and this has to be produced at the buffet, where the CH will mix it with the hot water before giving it back to the customer. This is because of the number of people who would ask for a cup of (free) hot water, drop their own tea-bag in it, help themselves to milk and sugar, and walk off.

 

[Hyphen]

Hot water is not given for free unless for medicine (eg Lemsip), and this has to be produced at the buffet, where the CH will mix it with the hot water before giving it back to the customer.

Useful to note, thanks Flamingo.

There's nothing nicer than a Lemsip when I'm full of cold, and wouldn't honestly have thought I'd ever get one on a train, short of paying for a coffee, and asking them not to put the coffee in it. In fact, I carry a permanent supply of paracetamol in my bag (though not water, now I think about it!) for that exact reason.

Thumbs up to FGW on that!

 

[Flamingo]

We aim to please

 

[Tom B]

On a recent EC journey another passenger wanted a cup of hot water for warming some baby food - I think they were charged 50p, didn't have to produce anything though.

 

[route:oxford]

You'll just have to do what I do and bring a bottle of Tesco's Value water on with you, at a princely sum of 20p.

Goodness no.

17p a bottle at Sainsbury for a 2 litre bottle of their "basics" still or sparkling table water.

 

[theageofthetra]

Or fill a 2 litre plastic bottle from a tap?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I note that the title of the thread refers to water in the sink, which makes this doubly a matter to be cautioned against. I would never drink even the purest of all water once it was decanted into the said sink...

 

[causton]

We aim to please

How much for just a hot water then, if you wanted to make a fancy drink with it or something? (Sachet of flavoured hot chocolate perhaps? )

 

[LowLevel]

I note that the title of the thread refers to water in the sink, which makes this doubly a matter to be cautioned against. I would never drink even the purest of all water once it was decanted into the said sink...

Definitely not. I've caught people peeing in them before.

 

[Hellfire]

The Evening Standard ran a campaign in London a few years ago to persuade restaurants to offer tap water as a matter if course. Seems to have had some success as I have never been refused tap water in a restaurant.

I can appreciate the difficulty of providing potable tap water on trains, you'd need special storage tanks and a separate plumbing system. However, given supermarkets can sell bottled water for less than 20p then TOCs should be able to sell it in board for a much cheaper price than they do.

 

[broadgage]

If your cold water supply cannot be stopped by placing your thumb over the tap it is likely that you have a direct feed from the mains.

Is storage supply a regional thing? Perhaps to do with low pressure? Never lived anywhere in the UK with cold water storage.

All water contains bacteria, these will thrive in warm conditions ie bathrooms and next to hot water pipes and will multiply more if the water is infrequently used.

In years gone by when water was supplied by the local authority, many districts had bylaws requiring cold water storage in houses.
Commonly the cold tap in the kitchen was mains water and everything else came from the tank.
I am not aware of any present day requirement for domestic water storage.

To return to water on trains, the water could PROBABLY be consumed without ill effect, but since "probably" is not good enough, it is marked "not drinking water" to be sure.

The water tanks on trains are filled with drinking water from the mains, but there is some risk of contamination from the filling hose or bacterial growth in the tank rendering the water unfit to drink.

Water used in train kitchens used to be, and may still be, treated at the point of use by ultraviolet light, to kill bacteria.

 

[najaB]

In years gone by when water was supplied by the local authority, many districts had bylaws requiring cold water storage in houses.
Commonly the cold tap in the kitchen was mains water and everything else came from the tank.
I am not aware of any present day requirement for domestic water storage.

As well as the rise of combination boilers that require no storage tank, the byelaws/regulations were also changed to allow mains-pressure hot water tanks. This has virtually eliminated the necessity for cold water storage tanks, though many houses still have them.

 

[Bill EWS]

Even if the water in the tanks was fresh, drinkable water I certainly wouldn't want to drink it after it has sat in the tans for any length of time. I don't expect these tanks are given a really good clean-out very often, if ever and simply topped up as required. No thanks.

 

[JohnB57]

The Evening Standard ran a campaign in London a few years ago to persuade restaurants to offer tap water as a matter if course. Seems to have had some success as I have never been refused tap water in a restaurant.

As mentioned previously in the thread, it's now illegal to refuse to serve tap water in licensed premises.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Incidentally Amtrak in the States provides free drinking water fountains in every coach. Very civilised!

I'd love to see this on board First Great Western services!

But to be fair I can only repeat what others have said and expect that the water is kept in tanks. I certainly wouldn't want to drink tap water even if it fresh. I'd much rather purchase a bottle of water from the buffet.