Also, where is it stored? If it’s stored way under your house, how can it come out of the tap in 1/2 a second? If it’s stored in a tank under the house like I imagine, should you let the tap run a moment before filling up a glass to avoid the water becoming stale? If not, why not?
Yours,
A very confused water fan
In: 9
It mostly sits in your pipes, waiting for a release of pressure in a specific tap to flow in that direction. It’s unlikely the water needs to travel very far, although it depends on the plumbing. Especially with older plumbing, it may often take a second or two to reach the faucet from after the turn of the knob.
As for water being stale, this actually is a concern, or rather water-borne pathogens having time to reproduce due to sitting around. However, potable water plumbing all has positive pressure so any leaks are forced out, preventing anything from getting into the pipe ideally, and that potable water was just cleaned by the city, so there isn’t any problem. Except when there is a problem of course!
You don’t really need to wait any length of time, but if it makes you feel better psychologically it won’t hurt unless you leave it running for much longer than a moment and waste water.
Latest Answers