Today I was reading a blog entry at KelticKaos about her revulsion upon hearing that a plumbing part meant for a toilet was used for the taps on a sink. The part in question was a brand new part that had never even come into contact with a toilet but that didn't make it any less disturbing to her.This story reminded my about an irrational 'thing' I have in regards to toilet water and drinking water.
When I was a kid I always thought that there was something fishy about the way the water pressure coming out of the sink dropped when somebody flushed the toilet. Since I was just a kid and didn't know anything about plumbing systems I was convinced that it had something to do with the toilet water becoming mixed in with the water coming out of the faucet. The way I saw it all of the water that came out while the pressure was low was partially made up of toilet water! Once the water pressure came back it meant that the water was safe again.
Naturally with this kind of thought process I hated it when someone flushed the toilet when I was using the water! If I was filling a glass of water and the toilet flushed I would pour the water out and wait for the pressure to come back before filling my glass. If I was brushing my teeth I would stand there and wait before I put my brush under the faucet. If I was, God forbid, drinking out of the tap at the same time as the toilet was flushed I would almost gag from the feeling of disgust.
Now that I'm all grown up and have a pretty thorough knowledge of plumbing you would think that this behavior would have passed...but it hasn't. Since the kids came along I've mostly come to grips with my toilet water delusion, except when it comes to the water coming out of the bathroom faucet. That's just a little too close to the source for my liking! I still don't drink or use the water coming out of there after someone has flushed the toilet. No Sir! Not until the pressure comes back and all the toilet water has stopped coming out.
Logically, I know that it is not possible for the two types of water to mix when the toilet flushes but but doesn't stop me from feeling a little grossed out! There is still a tiny voice in the back of my head saying, "Fuck logic! You know damned well that's toilet water!"
2 comments:
I totally agree! I always thought the water in the toilet, tub and sink all came out of one pipe. I can't even say I'm 100% sure that it still doesn't. I'd never drink bathroom water because of that fear.
I Was the same way, and I still gag when the water pressure goes down. I also can't drink water from the tap if the washing machine or dishwasher is running, for the same reasons. Sad though it may be.
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