Is it possible to drink water from the tap? This question, which has recently once again come to the forefront of attention. The discussion was sparked by, amongst other things, the issue of free tap water in restaurants catering establishments as well as publications comparing water from the mains with bottled water.

From the consumer’s point of view, the question now arises: what do we actually know about the water that comes out of our taps?

Is tap water healthy? Does it contain minerals? What about chlorine? Is it worth filtering it? Can tap water really replace bottled water?

Let’s find out!

Is it safe to drink tap water?

Water supplied by the public water supply system is intended for consumption and is subject to specific quality requirements and regular monitoring. If, at a given location, the water meets the applicable requirements and no notice has been issued restricting its suitability for consumption, it may be used for drinking and for food preparation.

New regulations on the quality of water intended for human consumption have been in force in Poland since 2026. They have introduced an even broader scope of monitoring and a risk-based approach covering the entire water supply process – from the source and intake, through treatment and the water supply network, right up to the point of use – including, for example, our tap .

However, it is worth bearing one thing in mind: the fact that tap water is safe to drink does not mean that all tap water in Poland has exactly the same composition, taste or hardness.

Is the water from every tap the same?

No! The route of the water does not end at the water treatment plant.

From the intake, it flows into the treatment system, then into the distribution network, into the plumbing of a specific building, and only then to our tap.

The condition of the building’s internal plumbing system is also important. Stagnant water, temperature and the materials used in the plumbing are factors which, in certain situations, can affect the water at the tap.

One should not conclude from this that every older system is a problem. However, it does illustrate why the quality of the water leaving the treatment plant and the parameters of the water drawn from a specific tap are not always exactly the same thing.

How can you check, whether the water from the tap is suitable for drinking?

It is particularly worth asking this question when there has been a sudden change in the water – such as an unusual colour, smell, taste or sediment – or when you use your own water supply.

In the case of the water supply network, the first source of information should be announcements from the local water supply company and the relevant public health and epidemiology centre. However, if you wish to find out the specific parameters of the water supplied to your home, it may be helpful to water quality testing in the laboratory.

Laboratory analysis enables us to assess selected physicochemical or microbiological parameters which we are unable to determine reliably on the basis of appearance, smell or taste alone. This is particularly This is important in the case of private water sources, such as a well, where the responsibility for monitoring water quality rests to a much greater extent with the user.

The test can also help you make a more informed decision about water treatment.

Tap water or bottled water – what about the environmental impact?

In the case of bottled water, one must also take into account the production of the packaging, the use of raw materials, transport, storage and the subsequent disposal of the bottle.

Life-cycle analyses indicate a median carbon footprint of approximately 0.9 g CO₂eq per litre for tap water and approximately 160 g CO₂eq per litre for water bottled in PET. The figures naturally vary from one study to another and depend, amongst other things, on the method of production, transport and the methodology used.

It is precisely the reduction in the use of single-use packaging that is one of the reasons why the issue of tap water also features in European regulations. The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) stipulates that Member States should encourage restaurants, canteens, bars and cafés to serve tap water to customers, where available, free of charge or for a small service charge, in reusable or refillable containers.

Poland’s proposal to introduce a requirement for 0.5 litres of free water to be provided in establishments was, however, removed from the draft bill during the consultation stage. It was this very discussion that sparked renewed interest in the topic of tap water.

Filtering tap water – is it worth it?

Given that tap water is subject to testing, one might ask: is it worth filtering tap water?

There is not just one answer that is right for every home. Filtration may make sense when, if we want to influence the specific properties of the water or when based on on the basis of its parameters a specific need for treatment has been identified. This may refer for example to the taste and odour of the water, hardness or specific parameters requiring the use of appropriate technology. It is worth in this avoiding the belief, that the most extensive filtration system will automatically be the best solution.

Domestic filtration should be tailored to a specific problem water quality and expected parameters. The filter is not however a substitute for the system-wide monitoring of water safety .

Which filter for tap water should you choose?

First, you need to determine the desired outcome. Different technologies are used depending on whether the main priority is the sensory properties of the water, whether there are issues relating to hardness, or whether the water analysis indicates specific parameters that need to be reduced.

Therefore, choosing a filter solely on the basis of the number of filtration stages or the popularity of a particular solution is not always the best approach.

The starting point should be the water parameters and the user’s requirements.

If we don’t know what kind of problem we’re dealing with, it’s worth first of all getting to know the water in more detail, and only then later choose the method for treating it.

This approach helps to avoid both the use of unnecessary technology and the selection of a solution that does not address the actual problem.

The shop FITAQUA offers a range of < a4> solutions designed for various needs related to water treatment water. For example:

• if our main priority is improving the quality of water used for drinking and cooking, you might consider the under-sink filter Puroline Home, designed, amongst other things, to reduce carbonate hardness and to remove compounds that affect the taste and odour of the water;
• when we expect more advanced drinking water treatment, reverse osmosis systems may be the solution. Box-type reverse osmosis systems with an osmotic tank, such as the filter RO7 Alabaster Redox MNX. When we have limited space in the kitchen, a filter HYDRION – a tankless Direct Flow RO system, which filters water on a continuous basis and does not require it to be stored in a tank, would be the ideal solution;
• if the main problem is high hardness water and limescale building up throughout the whole house, it is worth taking a look at water softeners, e.g.. devices from the series iVISION using ion exchange technology;
• in the case of water from one’s own intake, when testing shows e.g.. elevated levels of iron or manganese, specialised systems are used designed for iron removal and manganese removal water.

Is it safe to drink tap water? Start by finding out more!

Tap water in Poland is subject to strict requirements and monitoring, and for millions of people it is their daily source of drinking water. However, its exact characteristics may vary depending on the source, the treatment process, the local distribution network and the domestic plumbing system.

So, rather than simply asking: “Is tap water better than bottled water?” it is worth asking yourself another question: “Do I know what sort of water comes out of my tap?”

If we want to find out its actual parameters, a starting point could be to be a test of the quality of the water. And if the results or our expectations indicate the need for additional treatment – the next step should be selection of a solution suitable for a specific water.

Because a mindful approach to water isn’t about being afraid of it. It’s all about knowing what we’re drinking.