How is the water which comes out of taps in train toilets treated? Why is it not drinkable?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Water in train sinks "not drinkable"
- Thread starter Oscar
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Lampshade
Established Member
Isn't it just rain water collected in a reservoir on the roof?
Qwerty133
Established Member
Not sure why, but would you really want to drink water which could have been in a tank for a number of days (if not weeks, as I can't imagine the tanks being emptied before being filled)?
I'd have thought that would make it more drinkable.
Provided they fish the pigeons out every now and again !
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 34,265
...and the fish and the salt, from those big waves along the sea wall.
Ah, a bit if sustenance for when the buffet car's closed
plymothian
Member
Basically, the potable water on a train is strictly controlled in its handling, delivery and storage. Thus, the toilet water system is classified as non potable so if contamination happens it does not affect human consumption (even if it does come from the same supply as the potable water).
Last edited:
CatfordCat
Member
- Joined
- 23 Jan 2013
- Messages
- 639
I think it's more "not drinking water" (than "not drinkable") like that tap water that's been in a storage tank (like the water in the cold taps in most peoples' bathrooms etc) rather than come straight from the mains.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Legionella and other nasties - The water may sit in those tanks and not move for some time and be heated and cooled over a couple of times for any nasties to reproduce.
dysonsphere
Member
- Joined
- 22 Jan 2013
- Messages
- 518
With the onset of combi boilers most ppl dont have a cold tank any more or a hot tank come to think about it.
Last edited:
That sounds like a good Eco idea for the future but as far as I know all roof tanks are currently filled in stations or depots with a conventional hosepipe
Last edited:
Unfortunately your wrong, people can have a combi boiler(mains fed) supplying the bathroom with hot water but most peoples cold supply to the bathroom will be storage fed unless its been converted to mains previously, and youl find that water on trains is infact drinkable, TOCs just cover there arses by stating its 'not drinking water' in the case that someone gets legionella due to bacteria in the water due to it not being 'fresh', drink at your own risk....
starrymarkb
Established Member
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
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I'd suggest legionella is a red herring (not literally), as if that is present it can become airborne and infect without the water having to be drunk. I think it also prefers warm rather than cold water systems, such as water cooling towers for air conditioning on large buildings.
However, tanks are usually filled up by plugging a hose, which otherwise just lies beside the track, onto a nozzle at the end of each coach. Since both are exposed to any passing bugs including those dischraged from dump toilets, and there's no obvious attempt made to clean or disinfect them, then it's hardly surprising that the water isn't classed as drinkable even though legionella isn't a concern.
I seem to recall the RTC test trains carry drinking water supplies and the end of the hoses sits in a container of something when not in use.
Incidentally Amtrak in the States provides free drinking water fountains in every coach. Very civilised!
However, tanks are usually filled up by plugging a hose, which otherwise just lies beside the track, onto a nozzle at the end of each coach. Since both are exposed to any passing bugs including those dischraged from dump toilets, and there's no obvious attempt made to clean or disinfect them, then it's hardly surprising that the water isn't classed as drinkable even though legionella isn't a concern.
I seem to recall the RTC test trains carry drinking water supplies and the end of the hoses sits in a container of something when not in use.
Incidentally Amtrak in the States provides free drinking water fountains in every coach. Very civilised!
Last edited:
I always understood that eating and drinking establishments in this country have to provide free tap water to customers on request. Would this be true for buffet cars and trolleys on trains as well ?
deltic1989
Established Member
...and the fish and the salt, from those big waves along the sea wall.
Engines do not fish
I had always understood that it was up to the restaurant weather they serve tap water on request or not. Certainly in my experience when asking at several places for a glass of water to take medication, i have been refused and asked to buy bottled water. Circumstances may have changed now however. But I still take a bottle of tap water from home with me now, for when I have to take tablets.
dk1
Veteran Member
Don't think so but then they just give out thousands of bottles of free water these days anyway. Case after case in coaches, units & cabs on AGA today.
Ah, very wise in that case !
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I remember being on a delayed Virgin Cross Country service and being given a free can of Virgin cola once.
route:oxford
Established Member
- Joined
- 1 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 4,949
Almost... It's only if they are licensed.
Flicking through the legislation it's a criminal offence with a risk of a 6 month prison sentence if they fail to do so.
So next time you are refused. Call the police on the non-emergency number (unless the inability to take medication due to refusal of water would make it an emergency).
Relevant legistlation (for England and Wales) is here.
http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/as...nsing conditions - Home Office April 2010.pdf
Ah thanks. Although to be fair, I don't think I've ever asked for water at a licensed establishment
And this won't apply to trains as they are not licensed premises.
theageofthetra
Established Member
Same rule re having free tap water at licenced premises is why all sports stadia now have to provide drinking fountains. BAA owned airports try to hide them well away (LHR T5 being a good example) so you are forced to spend money in their shops.
On several different trains I've heard them use the phrase 'Fully licensed bar serving a range of beers, wines and spirits' or similar. Are they stretching the truth?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Never mind - just found this earlier thread on the exact topic.
I don't particularly mind the lack of drinking water on most trains, but I do wish more were provided on the Caledonian sleeper (and presumably Night Riviera too, though I've not travelled on that). I drink quite a bit of water before and after sleeping, so the little bottle they provide in the cabin doesn't go very far, particularly on the long trek from London to Fort William. I do resent paying for such a basic thing as water (anywhere, not just on trains)* so buying a few bottles from the lounge car isn't my preferred solution!
* Yes yes I know I pay for it at home too but that amount is minuscule compared with even the cheapest bottle of water.
* Yes yes I know I pay for it at home too but that amount is minuscule compared with even the cheapest bottle of water.
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.
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've been to places with a licence offering a service charge for water. How does that come into it?
My kitchen (as most) - mixer tap. My downstairs loo - mixer tap, my bath - mixer tap, my bathroom sink - mixer tap, lastly I have a shower.....so only one sink (en-suite) has two taps, that's only because the sink chosen has two tap holes. There is absolutely no connection between UK building codes and two tap systems.
ExRes
Established Member
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
- Status