Effects of drinking tap water

LegacyUser

Since moving out of my parent’s house 4 years ago, I have been getting diarrhea quite often. Sometimes as often as 3 or 4 times a week, I’d rarely go longer than a week without getting this. It wasn’t bad diarrhea, a kind of semi diarrhea. Certain foods would trigger it, like toast or crisps, even pasta sometimes or spicy food. So I just put it down to my diet, but no matter what food I would avoid I’d still get it at least once or twice a week.

A few months ago I moved to a different town, to a new housing estate. After a day or two in the house I started drinking the tap water. There was a strong smell of chlorine from the water. Several hours after drinking the water, I had severe diarrhea, I didn’t immediately think it was the water that caused it, I was trying to think of what food I had eaten. I felt very dehydrated after the diarrhea and I drank even more water to compensate. This made my diarrhea even worse. I stopped drinking the water, and bought bottled water from Tesco’s, something I’ve never done before. I started drinking the bottle water for everything including tea. As you can imagine my body was fairly cleared out, and I didn’t have a bowl movement for a few days.

That was 2 months ago, and I’m still drinking bottled water. I haven’t had diarrhea since I started drinking the bottled water. I had the department of the environment out to test the water, but they said it was fine. But there is just something that is in the tap water that doesn’t agree with my body. I put up with it for over 3 years. I don’t know if other people suffer from this problem, but I just thought I’d share my experiences as it may help someone.

D!ve^Bomb!

that's really strange perhaps the water is fine, but you were just allergic to somethin in it? was anyone else in your family suffering from this?

secret_squirrel

Have you been to the doctors? That would have been the first stop for me - considerably sooner than 2 months ago.

Also have you checked your cold water tank?? Generally only 1 tap in the house is connected to the mains supply (usually in the kitchen) you can tell from the higher pressure at the tap.

Try the direct mains water - see if that affects you. If it doesnt - then the chances are there is something nasty lurking in your cold water tank.

Nevyn

unreguser wrote:

But there is just something that is in the tap water that doesn’t agree with my body. I put up with it for over 3 years. I don’t know if other people suffer from this problem, but I just thought I’d share my experiences as it may help someone.

This could just be the case. I have no problem drink the tap water at home but if we are visiting relatives in Wexford or in Clare we have to make sure we go buy water in the trip there for the tap water there has the same effect on both the kids and me.

Mutz

Thats got to be costly for you too so try boiling the water - let it cool in the fridge and then try it. You might have a reaction to the natural bacteria found in tap water.

kaimera

go to the doctor and get checked out. it could be a case of IBS [irritable bowl syndrome]

Ms Beanbag

maybe you could get 1 of those brita water filter things, to ensure the water is totally clean?

FranknFurter

maybe an allergic reaction to chlorine?

the_syco

Get a very clean glass. Pour the water in it. Look @ it from the side. If there's alot of things floating around in it, its not good. This could also mean that its a local problem, etc.

Victor

Sounds like one of two things

(a) Irritable Bowel Syndrome - not enough fluid & fibre in your diet resulting in an irregular bowel habit. Too much pizza and not enough veg.

(b) You aren't used to the local bacteria in the water - hence the advice to tourists "don't drink the water". Water in many locations is perfectly acceptable to the locals, but because tourists / visitors haven't built up a resistance, they fall succeptible to even low bacteria levels.

If suffering from diarrhea talk to your local pharmacist and they should be able to do something for you. When re-hydrating, don't use water, use something iso-tonic, even if it's only flat 7-up.

I haven't heard of people being allergic to chlorine / fluorine / carbonates, but who knows. Try the filter jug idea also.