Ministry of Health recommends: Do not use hot tap water!

Ministry of Health recommends avoiding using hot tap water for drinking and cooking, and allowing tap water to run a few seconds when it has not been used for a while.

A drinking water quality report for 2011 performed by the Department of Environmental Health at the Ministry of Health which was released today, (Thursday), states that three percent of the tests which were conducted at 30 sampling sites for cold and hot tap water in homes and institutions, irregularities were found.

Ministry of Health examined the level of metals in water and found that the metals which were detected in water contained lead, copper, iron and aluminum.

Homes with old plumbing systems elevate mainly the levels of iron and lead, which are carcinogenic.

It was also found that the first flow of water coming from the tap may contain higher concentration levels of metals than in the water supply system itself, mainly in warm water.

Other recommendations for the public formulated following this discovery include ensuring the use of standard water pipes, metal testing when there is old plumbing, avoid use of first flow water for drinking and cooking, including making baby food, after the water has been standing for a long time in the system, e.g. After night.
It is as well recommended to allow a brief flow for a few seconds before using water; avoid using hot tap water for drinking and cooking as much as possible, and avoid using water for drinking or cooking with high turbidity or color domesticity presence of metals. However, allowing the water to flow slightly causes easy flow of fresh water and brings fresh water, the report states.

The Health Ministry is considering running regulations that would allow consumers to require local authority water suppliers to test the household taps for metals.

The report also refers to the abnormal levels of bacteria detected in several towns and villages that have not performed enough testing for bacteria levels in drinking water in their areas, including Kfar Kassem, Mazkeret Batya, Aba - Tabbash - Hg'ag'ra, Kfar Yasif, Agar and Bet Jaan.

The report also indicates a low level of metal detection testing in the water networks of local authorities, and despite the work program for 2011 including 845 metal tests; only 345 were actually performed (41%). Tests detected abnormal iron levels in tap water in communities Givat Ze'ev and Talmey Bilo and Sharsheret.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!