Watering and hoses
Is hose water the same as tap water?
The water going into your hose is the same water that comes out of your kitchen tap. What changes it is the hose. Many garden hoses are not made for drinking water, and water that sits in them, especially in the sun, can pick up chemicals from the hose and its fittings.
Updated 26 Oct 2026 · Facts checked against the sources at the end.
What tests have found
In its 2016 garden hose study, the Ecology Center, a nonprofit group, tested hoses and the water that came out of them. It found lead in water from some hoses not labeled as drinking-water safe, and phthalates (plastic softeners) in some hose materials. A hose labeled drinking-water safe performed much better in its lead test. Hoses and fittings have changed since then, so treat these results as a reason for caution rather than a verdict on any hose you own.
Simple tips
- Do not drink from an ordinary garden hose. Get drinking water from an indoor tap.
- Let it run for a short while before filling pet bowls, kiddie pools or watering cans for edible plants, to flush water that sat in the hose.
- Check the temperature. Water left in a hose in the sun can get very hot. Run it until it feels cool before it touches children, pets or plants.
- Buy a drinking-water safe hose if you fill water containers, RV tanks or animal troughs. Look for a clear 'drinking water safe' or 'potable water' label from the maker.
- Store the hose in the shade when not in use.
Watering edible plants
Watering vegetables with an ordinary hose is common practice. If you are concerned, choose a drinking-water safe hose for the vegetable garden, flush the hose first, and water the soil rather than the leaves. Water the soil at the base of plants anyway; it reduces leaf diseases.
Keep the water supply clean too
A hose can also carry dirty water back into your pipes if pressure drops. A hose bib vacuum breaker prevents this; see backflow preventers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to drink water from a garden hose?
It is best not to. Ordinary garden hoses are not made for drinking water and can add chemicals, especially when water sits in them in the sun. Use an indoor tap for drinking.
What is a drinking-water safe hose?
A hose the maker labels as safe for drinking or potable water, made from materials meant for that use. They are often sold for RVs, boats and filling water containers.
Why is the water from my hose hot?
Water left in a hose heats up in the sun and can get hot enough to scald. Let it run until cool before using it on people, pets or plants.
Related
Sources
- Ecology Center: Garden Hose Study (2016)
- Washington State Department of Health: Common household cross-connection hazards
Written in our own words from the sources above. See our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.