Is drinking tap water safe, or should I boil it for 10 minutes?

@legacygsh1 Hi, and welcome to our support group. Whether to boil our drinking water is an ongoing topic here, and you will hear many points of view.

If a person has Bronchiectasis, the danger of contracting a Mycobacteria infection (NTM or MAC) always lurks, because the bacteria is everywhere, but tends to be common in household water. Drinking the water will not give you an infection UNLESS you have reflux (GERD) and potentially aspirate water. Many people with or without choose to be very cautious to try to avoid infection.

Other options, instead of boiling, include using a LifeStraw filter bottle, which removes any NTM, drinking bottled SPRING water, which typically has no/very little NTM, or using a .2 micron filter at the tap, which also removes NTM.

Do you currently have Bronchiectasis and/or MAC/NTM?

dr

Yes, I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, COPD and Cavitary NTM a year ago. It has been overwhelming, but I'm grateful that I stumbled upon this support group. Thank you for your response.

You can use a Britta or get a filter for your kitchen faucet which I have so I use filtered water for everything . I’m in an Assisted Living facility and last year there was a breakout of Legionella .. 6 residents went to the Hospital with Pneumonia and one passed…(he was 103 yrs old ) . One of my Doctors said where there is Zlegionelka there is Pseudomonas .. last year I had 4 infections Pseudomonas was found through cultures …right now I’m back on IV as I
Had a sinus infection and a culture done and Pseudomonas found again.
Does anyone know for sure Pseudomonas csn be tied to Legionella ? Thank
you . Kay Bastasini

Hi,

Some time ago I read a person's response to that same type of question. She said her pulmonologist said that Poland Spring bottled water was OK to drink. I boil tap water in the morning for my tea, but I do drink the bottled water to take my pills.

@kaybast The issue is the existence of biofilms which support the growth of Legionella, Pseudomonas and NTM, all of them can coexist in the right environment, but one does not necessarily cause or "promote" development of the other.
Depending upon the size of your facility, and how water is delivered. the risks can be higher than in normal household water supplies.
There are effective treatments (monochloramine is one) for reducing them, if the facility has the capacity to do so.
In the meantime, can you filter your water with a LifeStraw pitcher, or stick to drinking bottled spring water to reduce your risk? Also, if you have reflux (GERD), treating it can reduce the amount of aspiration of stomach contents to your lungs, which will also reduce infection risk.

Thank you very much for your comments .. my apologies for a couple of
Mis spellings .
I am filtering my water that comes into my apt.. and I do think that the facility is under an outside control (perhaps County ) as I understand several test kits are sent in monthly to sample different areas . Residents were sent a notice that air conditioning systems were being upgraded .
also I am bring treated for Gerd ….
Thanks again ! Appr3ciated our visit. Kay B.

Here in the desert, I consume a lot of water. I installed the Raintree under sink filtration system, which supposedly filters out everything. I'm an engineer and know too well about system failure. So, I use the Raintree tap for washing fruits and vegetable and for filling my 10 cup Life Straw pitcher for drinking water. I feel pretty confident that the water I drink is NTM free, Note: 10 cup pitcher may be too big for some refrigerators. When I'm travelling, I buy Spring water and bring my LifeStraw water bottle.

@kathyjjb PS: LifeStraw also has a 7 cup pitcher, but oddly the 10-cup cost less.

@kaybast So sorry this is a concern for you and others.
I, trying to be proactive, when I call around to research community living facilities I want to know many things about the water system and the heating /cooling systems of the facility due to what I have learned, and especially after being diagnosed with BE.

Years ago due to the water based heating system in an apartment community, I worked in the office, I came down with Legionella and hospitalized with 24/7 liquid antibiotics. Also at that same time I had Mycoplasma Pneumonia due to a heating system filter not having been changed out in a timely fashion.
So as you realize as I type this, yes I survived them.
That was 38 years ago, and my BE diagnosed in 2022.
We have to be aware of so many things and do what we can to when we can.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 so agree and well stated . Our facility had Legionella last year and 6 residents went to the hospital all with Pneumonia with one passing as he was over 100 yrs old. My Drs have mentioned where there is Legionella there is Pseudomonas..so guess that’s where I got it and had 4 infections last year and now this year another infection caused by the same bacteria, showed up in a culture in the sinuses... I’m on I.V. Treatment now going on 3 wks. I have taken precautions in my apt to filter my water however difficult to do the shower and not much I can do about the air system . I do have an air filter large floor kind that’s helping. I do understand that the facility has done alot to make changes so kudos to them. Thanks for the discussion.
All the best , Kay Bastasini