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This is a serious question, even if it sounds stupid; if you were dying of thirst, would you drink water from the toilet?

Asked by Berserker (33548points) December 4th, 2011

Hypothetical. I’m not planning on drinking toilet water.
For some reason, I’ve had this question in my head all weekend, no idea why. So I’m really wondering.
How safe would it be to drink water from a toilet bowl? Let’s say a regular toilet, that has seen years of use. I mean I’m thinking that bacteria must be rampant in there, and you’d probably get sick. But if someone regularly keeps the toilet clean (cleaning it with products once a week, say) and is a constant flusher, would the water be drinkable? Say you were dying of thirst, and the only source of water available is from a toilet. Would you drink it? Or would that just make someone worse? I’m thinking I would opt for the water in the tank instead of the bowl. How safe would it be to drink water from a toilet, from either the bowl or tank? I mean dogs do it, sometimes cats too. They don’t seem to get sick. Could a person get away with this if they had to?
I know it sounds like a silly trollish question, but I’m really wondering here. And not because I need/want to do it.

Of course, jokes are inevitable welcome, too. So what are the facts behind this, regarding health?

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