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

Bottled water is being delivered to residents in Killin for a second day and locals have been warned not to use tap water for anything other than flushing toilets.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Some bottlers sell tap water purified through reverse‑osmosis filtration which removes the minerals and flavour, he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

A tasting session lasting around an hour was a surprise for South African visitor Dere Vermeulen, 19, who normally drinks tap water.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Whenever the power went out, she said, the tap water in the “High Power” unit would turn a “disgusting” brown color, so the inmates were supposed to be provided with six water bottles daily.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

For drinking water, sometimes Mom managed to get a jug of tap water from neighbors, or I would be dispatched to sit beneath a leaking pipe connected to another home.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana