Never Drink from the Backyard Water Hose

That water looks clean, but what are the risks?

It’s summer and everyone is outside enjoying the sun, playing in the yard and maybe even running through a sprinkler or two. Although it may seem super tempting, you should never drink from the backyard water hose. That cold crystal-clear water coming out – all things considered – seems safe enough, right? As a matter of fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

The problem with backyard water hoses is that they were never originally meant for being a potable fresh-water drinking resource. They were produced to allow the passage of water from the home to water the grass, trees, plants and your garden, that’s it. Think of it this way, there is a filter on your water faucet in the kitchen for a reason. The water that goes into your backyard water hose is not water that is slated for cooking and drinking, it is meant to be a resource to water the grass tops. This water can be dangerous to drink, and even one sip can cause problems if this water is ingested. If humans should not drink from the garden hose, then the same goes for your pets too.

Remember, although the water hose may appear safe, the water has to first pass through the metal hose fittings, which may have the presence of lead or other chemicals within those systems. There can be high levels of lead and phthalate chemicals in yard hoses. These chemicals are highly toxic to humans. Other chemicals that may be present in the yard hose can include:

*Brominated flame retardants

*Bromine

*PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

*Tin

*Cadmium

*Recycled electronic waste vinyl

* BPA (bisphenol A)

These chemicals listed above if ingested can lead to the following medical issues in humans, such as:

*Birth defects

*Liver toxicity

*Impaired learning

*Cancer

*Serious health consequences

*Reproductive harm

If you are not convinced, it is known that the chemicals present in some garden hoses are also being put into the soil when you water the garden and the grass using these hoses all summer. You may want to consider buying safer water hoses that are specifically labeled as:

*“non-PVC”

*“Safe polyurethane”

*“Drinking water safe”

*“non-vinyl”

If a hose is labeled “lead-free” it may not contain lead, but could still contain dangerous phthalates and other hazardous chemical elements dangerous to humans when exposed to them.

Before using the water hose to water your vegetable garden, it is suggested that you always let the hose run water through it for a few seconds before using it. This will flush out any chemicals or other impurities that are sitting inside of the hose that are likely to come out first when the hose is turned on.

Water hoses should be stored in shaded areas. This will help avoid the sun acting as a catalyst for heating up the toxic chemicals or bacteria inside the hose, as it is left dormant before use.

When you are craving a tall glass of cold water while working or playing outside – go inside and retrieve from the kitchen faucet a tall glass of cold water! When enjoying being outside, don’t drink from the garden hose, your personal health and safety depends on it.

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