Drinking water from a hose pipe is not advisable. It may contain lead and other dangerous substances that may harm your health.
But what about using it to clean your dishes?
Learn more from this guide about whether you can safely wash your dishes with garden hose water and other things.
So, Can You Wash Dishes Using a Garden Hose?
Many people wash their utensils in a dishwasher or by hand washing using water from their sink tap. But, sometimes, you may not have a kitchen sink for one reason or the other. How do you wash dishes in this case? If you have a garden hose, you can consider this alternative. But is doing that safe? Well, there is no problem cleaning dishes with garden hose water. But, it would be best if you let them dry completely.
What’s a Garden Hose Anyway?
Before we discuss the dangers of garden hose water and how to wash dishes with it safely, we think it’s important to start our discussion from this point.
A garden hose is a tube mainly used outside the home to transport water.
Some people attach a sprinkler or sprayer at the end so that water only focuses on a single area or spreads over a large area.
A garden hose is often attached to a spigot or a tap.
This tube is mainly made of plastic or synthetic rubber with fiber webs to make it stronger.
These construction materials allow it to be smooth and flexible. You can pull your garden hose to a far distance from the tap.
Pipes that transport water are constructed with NSF International limited polymers, making them safe.
The materials won’t leach into your water, so your water should be safe. However, bear in mind that most garden hoses available aren’t recommended for hot water use.
Garden hoses transport water from the tap to the lawn, garden, or landscape. Some people also use them to clean outdoor things like buildings and equipment.
They will save you from carrying heavy buckets of water when doing activities outside your home, and you can quickly bring water to far areas.
What Are The Issues With Garden Hoses?
According to several studies, a garden hose might not be that safe. It has various chemicals that are harmful to your health, including;
1. Phthalates
These chemicals are usually added to cosmetics and plastics to soften them and make them flexible.
Various researches have linked phthalates to lower intelligence, behavioral changes, and damage to the endocrine system.
It can also lead to hormonal imbalance and make a man sterile. PVC hoses have these chemicals, so you should not drink water from them.
2. BPA
This chemical is mainly found in plastic wires and can affect one’s health.
It can cause hypertension since the plastic wires react with heat from the sun when exposed for a long time. It is the main reason manufacturers are designing BP-free products.
If your garden hose is exposed to the sun for long, it’s not advisable to use that water for drinking as it may contain some BPA.
3. Antimony
Antimony can be found in garden hose pipes.
According to experts, it can cause liver issues and kidney failure and hinder the functioning of other internal body organs.
4. Lead
Some garden hoses have a higher amount of lead than the Safe Water Drinking Act recommended.
Lead is harmful to your health, even in a small amount. There isn’t a safe limit for it.
What Are the Effects of Consuming Garden Hose Water?
Authorities do not monitor water from the garden hose.
So, most times, it is unclean.
Remember that pipes supplying water in the house are evaluated to meet the safety standards.
But this isn’t the case for those supplying water outdoors.
Not only that, the hose pipe can have fungi, molds, and bacteria.
If this water gets into your digestive system, it can cause several health complications.
Remember that you can get sick from consuming dirty water.
You may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or a queasy stomach.
Treatment for these conditions lasts for some days, meaning you’ll have to spend most of your time at home.
You can also get skin rashes and reproductive and developmental problems from consuming such water.
Again, it can affect your concentration and may even lead to depression. In worst cases, dirty water can eventually cause cancer.
The chemicals inside can react to your cells and cause cancer development. Unfortunately, treating cancer is challenging and expensive, and the effects are irreversible.
Therefore, it is best to note what you consume to keep your health in check.
Should You Wash Your Dishes with Garden Hose Water?
Now that you understand what a garden hose is and its dangers, you may be unsure whether or not to wash your dishes with water from it.
Well, worry not since it’s not dangerous to do that. But please, please, let your dishes dry completely before using them.
It’s important to remember that chemical particles may remain on the plate after rinsing with garden hose water. And consuming them is not good for your health.
Therefore, after washing your dishes with garden hose water, please give them enough time to dry.
Please do not use a plate or a cup with some water particles.
In fact, it’s best to place your wet, cleaned dishes on a dish rack and allow the water to drip out of them slowly.
You may use napkins or paper towels if you like, but this isn’t safe as it can introduce bacteria and spread chemicals from one utensil to another if you use the same towel.
How Else Can You Reduce the Risk of Contamination?
You can take several steps to minimize the health risks associated with garden hose water. These include;
1. Allow The Water To Run For Several Minutes
When you first open the tap, don’t immediately start washing your dishes or drinking first. Let it run for several minutes to reduce toxins that may be present.
Remember that it’s not safe to use water that sits in a hose pipe for a long time. So make sure you flush out the toxins first.
2. Don’t Leave The Pipe In Sunlight
Keep your garden hose in a dark and cool place.
Remember, warm temperatures can degrade the polymer and cause chemicals to leach into your water. So, please keep your pipe in cool areas to reduce these risks.
3. Look At The Fixture
Usually, plumbing fixtures are made of brass which may contain lead.
Therefore, even if you’re using a safe hose pipe, it may still be contaminated with metal from the faucet. But running the water through the fixture removes most of this contamination.
However, remember that this water is far from the hose. We still emphasize letting the water run before you use it.
4. Opt For A Rubber Hose
Hoses made from rubber do not have toxic plasticizers.
Therefore, they are safer than their counterparts. Before buying the hose pipe, please read the description first.
Choose a product with a low environmental impact and is safe for your health. But even with these kinds, make sure you let the water run for several minutes to remove chemicals and other toxins.
Final Thoughts
It is not safe for you, your children, or pets to drink garden hose water. But you can use it on dishes as long as you let them dry completely before using them.
References
https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2016/7/25/is-your-garden-hose-toxic
