When it comes to staying hydrated, the bathroom faucet probably isn’t the first place you think of when reaching for a drink. The idea of sipping water from the same sink where you brush your teeth or wash your hands might not sound appealing, and for many, it might even feel a little gross. But let’s get straight to the point—is it actually safe to drink water from the bathroom?

The good news is that in most cases, yes, it’s perfectly safe. Thanks to modern plumbing systems, the water coming out of your bathroom tap usually comes from the same treated source as your kitchen sink, meaning it’s held to the same safety and cleanliness standards. Municipal water supplies are regulated and filtered before entering your home, so technically, drinking from the bathroom shouldn’t be any different than drinking from the kitchen. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things to keep in mind before you start filling up your glass in the bathroom.

One important factor is the age and condition of your home’s plumbing system. If you live in an older home—especially one built decades ago—and the pipes haven’t been replaced or maintained, there’s a chance that they could be corroded or made from outdated materials like lead. This can lead to impurities leaching into the water and potentially affecting both the taste and the safety. While the risk is relatively low in most updated homes, it’s always a good idea to be cautious if your plumbing is older than your last three smartphones combined. Another key point to consider is whether your home has a water softener or filtration system. If you’ve invested in a whole-house water filtration system, then all the water you use—whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or even laundry room—benefits from additional purification. These systems remove excess minerals and contaminants and can make your bathroom tap water just as, if not more, drinkable than any other faucet in the house.

And if you’re curious about the exact quality of your tap water, there are easy-to-use home testing kits that can provide clarity and peace of mind by checking for things like lead, chlorine, or bacteria. One common misconception that makes people uneasy about drinking from the bathroom is the proximity to the toilet. It’s easy to think that bathroom water might somehow be “dirtier” because it’s located in the same room as the toilet, but that’s not how plumbing works. The water that fills your toilet tank and the water that flows from your sink both come from the same clean source but travel through separate pipes and systems, so there’s no risk of contamination from the toilet unless something has gone seriously wrong with your plumbing setup. While the water itself may be safe, it’s still important to consider the cleanliness of your bathroom sink.

Bathrooms are naturally more humid and prone to bacteria buildup due to regular use and moisture. If your sink hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it might not be the best place to fill a cup. Touching the faucet or letting your glass come in contact with a grimy sink surface could transfer germs to your drink. Keeping your bathroom clean isn’t just about appearance—it also helps maintain a healthy environment for everything from handwashing to the occasional sip of water. Ultimately, it comes down to using common sense.

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If your house has modern plumbing, a clean bathroom, and a well-maintained sink, drinking water from the bathroom tap is perfectly fine. But if your pipes are older than your high school yearbook or your bathroom hasn’t seen a disinfectant wipe in years, it might be better to play it safe and stick with the kitchen. At the end of the day, water is water—but how it gets to your glass and what it passes through along the way does matter. So yes, you can safely guzzle down bathroom water, just be smart about when and how you do it. And whatever you do, double-check your glass before drinking—accidentally chugging mouthwash instead of water might leave you with fresher breath, but it’s probably not the refreshing experience you were hoping for.