How long does it take for tap water to "go off" and become undrinkable?

[elwoodspice]

How long does it take for tap water to "go off" and become undrinkable?

[snook]

I suppose that depends how thirsty you are. People in third world countries, or for that matter anyone living 'off the land' anywhere would consider our tap water, 'off' or not, to be a great luxury I suppose (or foul perhaps, if they had access to a clear running stream). It's all a matter of what you're used to, what you expect and what you take for granted.

[JustSia]

Depends what do you mean by undrinkable. There are loads of reasons why it might be undrinkable. Bacteria, polution, etc. So there are loads of variables. The container. The starting material. The room temperature. Air polution. You name it.

However, the most obvious diffrence (apart from temperature) in a glass of water freshly poored or which stood for say about an hour is its acidity.

S

[Mudman]

Don't think that treated tap water does "go off". It's from an act of Parliment that everything sold for human consumption has to have a "use by" date on it. (even water)

Also. Your local water authority is obliged to hold stockpiles of bottles and mobile tanks in case of emergences. That all have to be treated as industrial waste water, when they go "out of date". Involving an expesive waste treatment procedure.

How much does all That cost?

How much

[joko]

if you leave a glass of water uncovered for about 8 hours it will taste odd - like paper (if you get me), but it will be safe to drink.

leave it for about 3 days and it will go slightly brown