Make the most of tap water

If you have lead pipes (used in many houses built before the 1970s), draw off a washing-up bowlful of water in the morning before drinking it. Water that has been standing for several hours may have had lead leach into it.

Don't drink from bathroom taps if they are supplied from a tank in the loft. The quality of this water may not be as good as that from the kitchen tap, which comes directly from the mains.

Don't drink from hot taps as they can have high copper levels.

If you use a filter (which removes chlorine and lead), replace it regularly or it could start leaching bacteria back into the water.