For most modern homes, the short answer is yes — generally safe, but with conditions. In most cities, both bathroom and kitchen taps draw from the same municipal water supply, which is filtered, treated, and tested for safety. Still, the path that water takes through your home — the pipes, fittings, and fixtures — can make a real difference in what comes out of the faucet.

1. The Role of Plumbing Age
If your home was built before 1986, when lead plumbing was still common, it’s worth checking for outdated pipes or solder. Even low levels of lead or corrosion can leach into standing water. Running a simple water test or letting the tap run for a few seconds before use helps reduce exposure.

Newer plumbing systems, especially those upgraded with copper or PEX lines, deliver water that’s both safer and cleaner. Modern building codes and municipal testing make serious contamination rare.

2. Why Bathroom Water May Taste Different
If the bathroom tap hasn’t been used in a while, the first flow of water may taste flat or metallic. That’s usually because the water has been sitting in the pipes, not because it’s unsafe. Letting it run briefly restores freshness.