Niamh Shackleton
A scientist has shown people what rain and tap water looks like under a microscope, and the results might surprise you.
There are a handful of countries - such as England, Finland, and Switzerland - where drinking tap water is deemed pretty safe.
But in some places across the globe people are urged to stay clear of drinking water straight from the tap, and this video will make you realise why.
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On a TikTok page dedicated to putting different items under a microscope, this person showed people the difference between tap and rain water.
Believed to be based in the US, when the tap water was put under the microscope it seemed to show a concerning amount of live micro-organisms moving around, including what could have been copepods.
There was also a worm-like organism spotted in the up-close images of the water, and it would definitely make you question what exactly is it in the water you're drinking.
Meanwhile, the rain water also had several micro-organisms, including what's believed to be some parasites.
The findings have understandably left people 'terrified'.
"Great now I'm terrified of water," someone said.
Another person questioned: "Are you trying to make me never drink water again?"
"I never want to drink water ever again," shared another.
In regards to the rain water, many pointed out that the sample used was taken from the ground which could have easily contaminated it.
"It defeats the purpose when you get the rain water from the ground," someone argued.
A second suggestion: "All those germs from the rain water were from the ground."
While the tap water looked undeniably questionable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) insists that the US has 'one of the safest public water supplies in the world'.
It goes on: "If you are concerned about contaminants in your home’s water system, contact your state drinking water certification officer to obtain a list of certified laboratories in your state. Depending on how many contaminants you wish to test for, the cost of a water test can range from $15 to hundreds of dollars."
Meanwhile with rain water, the CDC urges people to only use it for things such as watering plants.
"To lower your risk of getting sick, consider using rainwater only for uses such as watering plants that you don’t eat or washing items that are not used for cooking or eating," the public health agency explains.
"Avoid using rainwater for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing or watering plants that you intend to eat. Instead, use municipal tap water if it is available, or purchase bottled water for these purposes."