Water experts don’t recommend drinking water from a moldy bottle as the mold present can travel inside your body and can make you sick.
They declare water bottle mold dangerous as it may inflict mold poisoning, abrupt infections, nausea, respiratory issues, diarrhea, etc.
Although EPA has not given any safe limit certification for mold in drinking water, the Swedish authorities have declared that the safe limit of mold in water is 100 CFU/100 mL.
You can detect mold in your drinking water from the musty odor in your tap water or biofilm buildup in your faucets. However, testing mold in water with the help of a testing kit will give you a sure-shot result.
So, what happens if you drink moldy water? Continue reading for an in-depth guide on the risks of drinking moldy water and how to get rid of it!
What Happens When You Drink Moldy Water?
Mold is a type of fungi that is present in the moist atmosphere, including air, water, near pipe/window/rooftop leaks, etc.
They can be either black or white and also possess the ability to survive in extremely harsh conditions. When present in a normal amount, these molds are safe from posing any health hazards.
However, when the amount of the same molds crosses the limit of 100 CFU/100 mL, it may lead to health risks for individuals, especially:
Some of the short-term effects of mold exposure through drinking water or drinking moldy water are:
☘ Can Black Mold Kill You?
Black Mold, also known as toxic black mold or Stachybotrys chartarum (atra), is assumed to be deadly for infants and toddlers.
In general, molds can’t be deadly, be they black or white. However, old, young, and immune-system-compromised people can get undesirable side effects by consuming this mold.
Recent News!
Recently it’s in the news that a lady named Honesthaley found an unsavory quantity of black mold within her spouse’s reusable bottle (that has made her husband sick).
She shared the video of cleaning the bottle with mold, which has driven the interest of many people. In the 5-second video clip, she explained and showed how she rinsed out the molds by placing a cloth over the moldy water-filled container.
Moldy Water Exposure: Long-Term Effects
Moldy water exposure on your body may have many long-term effects too. Such effects include:
So, When To Visit The Doctor’s Chamber?
Seek medical attention immediately as soon as you encounter the symptoms of:
Contact the doctor immediately. He will confirm whether the symptoms are because of mold or not and will prescribe medicines and treatment procedures accordingly.
Also Read: What Happens When You Drink Shower Water
How Do I Know If My Water Has Mold [5 Simple Ways!]
Here are 5 signs for primary confirmation of the presence of mold in drinking water:
1️⃣ Musty Smell In Tap Water
2️⃣ Biofilm Buildup In Faucets
3️⃣ You Can See Mold In The Toilet Tank
4️⃣ The Moldy Smell Of Hair After Washing It With Water
5️⃣ Your Family Members Are Diagnosed With Penicillium, etc.
Molds in water may cause serious health issues if exposed to your body long-term. So, if you or your family member has recently been diagnosed with diseases like penicillium, it’s time for you to take steps against the molds in your water.
However, if your water is smelling or tasting musty/ moldy/ mildew-like, you are seeing biofilm buildup over your faucets/fixtures, or your family member is just been detected with an Aspergillus/ Penicillium/ Cladosporium infection, and you want to satisfy yourself with a sure-shot result, you may go for a mold test through mold testing kits.
The kits are available at MyTapScore.
The Steps To Test Mold Using Kits Are:
Also Read: How To Test Water pH ?
✅ How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Water? [5 Ways]
Here are some ways to save yourself from mold in water:
| Method | Effectiveness | Ease of Implementation | Steps in Brief | Cost Involved |
| Regular maintenance of drains and pipes | Highly effective | Moderately easy | Ask a professional to check and do maintenance of the system periodically | It depends |
| Regularly clean reusable water bottles | Highly effective | Easy | Get a sterile cloth or bottle cleaner and with the help of it clean the bottle after each use. To clean the bottle, you should use high-quality rice, baking soda, hot water, and detergent. | Zero cost |
| Regularly cleaning faucet aerators | Highly effective | Easy | Detach the aerators from the faucets, put them under water and wash it properly | Zero cost |
| Prevent standing water in your house | Highly effective | Easy | Clear away the standing water inside or near your house. Don’t allow the water to stand. | Zero cost |
| Invest in a good water purification system | Supremely effective | Moderately easy | Purchase a water purification system or filter and call a professional to install it on your house | Depends on the type of water filter you purchase. |
1️⃣ Regular Maintenance Of Drains And Pipes
Leaking of pipes results in water leakage, that is, moistening of the areas inside the pipes and the surrounding areas, which in turn gives birth to molds.
Remember that:
Drain water may sometimes become stagnant, resulting in mold growth. Regular maintenance of drains and pipes saves them from leakage and other problems. Thus, it prevents the growth and development of molds in water.
How Effective Is It?
This method is highly effective as it directly curbs mold growth. It does so by cutting the moistened or water-stagnated area that they require for growth.
Is It Easy to implement?
The method is moderately easy to implement as you have to take the help of a professional to execute the method or to fix the leaking pipes.
Steps In Brief:
Cost involved:
The cost depends upon the professional and the input material costs required to carry out the steps as per municipal guidelines.
2️⃣ Regularly Clean Reusable Water Bottles
Using reusable water bottles without regularly cleaning them may invite unwanted molds to form in them. So, regular cleaning of these bottles is necessary to prevent molds and murky smells.
How Effective Is It?
Cleaning water bottles daily greatly prevents molds as the molds don’t get the opportunity to grow inside the bottles.
Is It Easy To Implement?
The process is relatively easy to implement. You only have to give a slight effort to clean the bottle regularly.
Steps In Brief:
Cost Involved:
As such, there will be no expense for this process. However, you must purchase baking soda, liquid detergent, and dry uncooked rice to execute this process which requires a slight expenditure.
3️⃣ Regularly Cleaning Faucet Aerators
Regular use of faucet aerators without cleaning may help build some molds within them or surrounding them.
Note That:
Regular cleaning is necessary to prevent mold. It would be best if you also replaced the aerators every year.
How Effective Is It?
This strategy for preventing mold formation is highly beneficial.
Is It Easy To Implement?
The process is manageable as it only involves regularly cleaning the aerators with a mold control solution.
Steps In Brief:
Cost Involved:
The process doesn’t owe you any expenditure except for the following:
Also Read: Top Faucet Finishes For Hard Water
4️⃣ Prevent Standing Or Stagnant Water In Your House
Standing / stagnant water always lends the mold spores a facility for their appearance as molds get facilitated by various moistened and damp settings.
So, staving off stagnant or standing water from your dwelling or tidying up the stagnant water within twenty-four hours reduces the chance of mold formation.
Besides, whenever you notice any wet area, it is smart to dry it up instantly.
How Effective Is It?
Preventing standing water to form in your house acts great for staving off molds.
How Easy Is It To Implement?
The process is quite susceptible as you only have to inspect the standing water, if any is present, in your house and drain it out.
Steps In Brief:
Cost Involved:
You don’t have to pay a single penny for this procedure.
5️⃣ Purchase A Good Water Purification System
Installing a promising off-the-line water purification or filtration system for your entire building is an incredible way to eliminate fungal contaminants involving mold spores from your everyday drinking water.
It’s a proven method that is based on record. It keeps undesirable mold spores from entering your water supply without using any chemicals, salt, or chlorine.
In case you are not financially capable of buying a whole house system for water purification, you can also go for a drinking water purifier or a shower filter.
How Effective Is It?
This method is the best way to stop mold spores from permeating your drinking water and prevent you from drinking moldy water. It’s supremely effective.
How Easy Is It To Implement?
This technique for mold spores prevention is moderately easy because it requires the involvement of the plumber or any other professional service giver.
Steps In Brief:
Cost Involved:
You will need to spend money on the water purifier cost, which varies according to the type, brand, and quality.
What To Do if You Drink Moldy Water FAQs
What causes mold in water?
The nutrients existing in the water trap various molds in it. Then, those molds, in the shape of a mat, flatten themselves above the water surface, thus generating spores. In water with scarce or zero nutrients, it becomes difficult for the mold to grow as it will perish at the very beginning due to the shortage of nutrients.
Can mold grow in filtered water?
Yes, mold has the ability to grow in filtered water in case the water filter you use in your house is not tidied up or maintained properly and regularly. This is because water filters carelessly used without any maintenance or cleaning may arrest mold in them, which then travels through the filtered drinking water to your body and victimizes your health.
What kind of mold comes from water damage?
If your home has water damage, it may trap the mold, Chaetomium, towards it. This mold usually grows in wet and dark atmospheres. They are equivalent to black-colored molds, and you will discover them in places like drywall, carpets, wallpaper, etc. They thrive in a similar environment in which the black molds grow.
Can mold grow inside a water bottle?
Yes, mold can grow inside a reusable water bottle if it is not cleaned properly. This is because a reusable water bottle usually remains moist, and this environment is ideal for molds to grow.
How long does it take for mold to grow in a water bottle?
Mildew or mold naturally takes twenty-four to forty-eight hours from the moment of water exposure before they initiate their growth in a soggy water bottle. Once it starts growing, it grows exponentially until you take the necessary steps to eliminate it. Mold elimination is possible only when you completely cut the moisture source.
Adarsh is a Health & Nutrition Sciences graduate with expertise in environmental health. He is associated with ventures like Glacier Fresh Filter.
Through Aqua Professor, he intends to provide helpful information to every home to help them make smarter decisions.
