Couple drink toilet water for six months after stomach-churning 'pipe mix-up'

28 November 2023 , 16:26

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It was only after plumbers came in to investigate that the couple realised what had happened (Image: Jam Press)

A couple mistakenly drank, cooked, and washed with toilet water for six months after a horrific pipe mix up.

The unfortunate man and woman were baffled when they began developing health issues after moving into a rental property in Beijing, China in May of this year. The man, named only as Mr Tan, was said to have started losing hair and suffering from bad bouts of acne. Meanwhile his unnamed girlfriend developed a cough and discomfort in her chest.

Then, around half a year after they moved in, Mr Tan realised he was yet to pay a single water bill - but it hadn’t been cut off. They were further left confused after checking the water meters, and finding it remained unmoved even when they ran the taps.

The couple's water meter, which didn't change when they ran the taps (Jam Press)

The number on the grey water meter, however, clearly increased when the taps were on, he claimed. They couple decided to call in plumbers who were stunned to find a mystery extra pipe that allegedly linked the toilet and tap water pipes.

Joining the dots, they realised they’d spent the past six months drinking, cooking with, and cleaning with toilet water. The plumbers fixed the pipework and Mr Tan immediately began seeking damages from the rental firm they'd been paying CNY 10,000 (£1,100) every month.

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The unnamed company said tenants had the option to use either drinking water or water sourced from a nearby well by adjusting valves. But the couple claim they were never told this before moving in.

William McGee