tap water

American  

noun

1. water, obtained directly from a faucet or tap, that has not been purified, distilled, or otherwise treated.

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tap water British  

noun

1. water drawn off through taps from pipes in a house, as distinguished from distilled water, mineral water, etc

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Etymology

Origin of tap water

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Some areas get less than an hour of tap water a day.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Silvio Belardi, the lawyer representing the hotel, is quoted in the newspaper Corriere Alto Adige as saying the court held that "there is no obligation to supply tap water".

From BBC • May 27, 2026

The installation of lead service lines was banned nationwide in 1986, but millions of homes still receive tap water through them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The Democratic governor reflected on other parts of his water policies, saying he has prioritized securing funds to provide clean drinking water to more communities where Californians live with contaminated tap water.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Drinking raw tap water is like wringing out roadkill onto your tongue.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson