Is using tap water ok?

What are the benefits (or dangers) of taking a pure tap water enema? And by "pure tap water" I mean straight from the tap (like in a shower hose enema).

A lot of people use "shower shot" type of Enema hose connected to shower. You just want to make sure the pressure is kept low and temperature even. Most of us have used them for years with no problems. They still don't take the place of an Enema with a bag, but are great for a quick clean out.

Dan

Air Enema Lover, if you are thinking about using your shower nozzle, please read some threads on the safe use. Here is one link for you. http://www.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;topic=818

If you are just interested in the tap water issue, I hope the prior answers in this thread answer your question. There are further discussions throughout the forum regarding water types.

I use tap water, but one has to make sure the water in your area is safe. Generally, what seems to me to be logical, is if you can drink it (water) it's OK for an enema. I certainly don't claim to be an expert at all, but that's what I've done over the years. I do enemas in the shower, just because of my living situation it's easier and I can have some fun. I have a very smooth shower hose, so I just stick it up my asshole and use how hard I squeeze my ass cheeks to determine the pressure. Also, I can let it go in the shower and for the most part it's a pretty easy clean up.

Here is a word of caution, I've heard using too many plain water enemas at once can be harmful because one can offset the electrolyte balance in their body, something like that. This is a great forum to explore questions like that, there are many real experts in this forum on very safe enemas. I've been doing them a long time, I was just describing what works for me, I've always lived in very safe water areas.

However, I was once in London and did a large enema with tap water. The shower had a very very very long hose for some reason and I just could not resist laying down across the shower and shoving the hose up my asshole. That day I was really relaxed, I took a huge one. Later that day, about an hour later, I was out for a luncheon and suddenly felt very faint, then it passed. I've often wondered if I should not have done that. The rest of my stay there for several weeks I did not do another enema that way.

Ha, then in Germany once, I did a large shower enema and of all things I plugged the shower drain in the small hotel I was staying at. I freaked out some thinking what am I going to tell them. Then, luckily, I noticed there was an easy clean out trap by the shower, I lifted it and all was OK. Phew!!!!

If you can drink it, you can use it for your enema.

I most often use tap water, but I usually only take one bag full. Multiple tap water enemas can cause hypokalemia (potassium loss). I've been in the ER 4 times from this, due to diarrhea from radiation treatments. They hang a bag of potassium chloride on me and a bag of D5W, or saline. You can tell when you are dangerously low on potassium; staggering and slurred speech, or even worse, irregular heart beat. I now drink tons of Gatoraid for it's potassium content and no further problems.

When I sold potassium supplements to physicians, we reminded them that with enemas til clear with tap water caused 80mEq of potassium loss with each bag full. Many of them would Rx a potassium supplement for those undergoing enemas til clear to avoid any problems. But a few tap water irrigations or a colonic should not cause any problems in the typical patient. Those on diuretics can get into trouble; Lasix is the worse, since it does not spare potassium. The newer potassium-sparing diuretics are OK to take and do tap water enemas. The vast majority of us can handle a reasonable number of tap water enemas just fine.

All I ever use is plain tap water and I have never had any problems.

hankb

After a heavy use of tap water, I always like to drink some Gatorade, just in case there has been an electrolyte imbalance.

Let me get this straight. You are really worried that water good enough to drink is not good enough for the other end of the same pipe?

'Course it is. 'Specially if you plan to expel most of it.

Tap away.

^^^^ absolutely right!

I just use tap water, I figure if you can drink it, it works

OK, so I was in a bit of a hurry, but did want to do an enema yesterday. Normally, I would use either baking soda or Ivory soap, but this time I used just plain warm water. Using the knee-chest position I took nearly the entire two quarts in the bag, held it for nearly 10 minutes and then expelled it. For no additives, this was a decent cleaning out, but also really comfortable experience. The bag was easier to clean up, too.

The only water I drink is filtered water. I have a filter system with 3 filters, one also does floride, which is really a poison. For enemas, a shower filter with a loneg hand held hose id used to fill the bag. I had my first colonic a while back, and that was filtered water.

Yes no problem for me

"Safe to drink is safe for enemas" is usually a good guide, but is actually not completely true. When you drink, the water goes into the stomach where the strong acids kill most of the harmful organisms that were in the water. The then "sterilized" fluid flows into the intestines. Injecting water directly into the intestine, bypasses the protective process in the stomach and can allow dangerous bacteria, parasites and viruses to infect the intestines. If you have any doubt about the safety of the water, the safe thing is not to use it.

I only use tap water and I never had a problem. Water quality in the US is usualy very good!

I do not favor tap water from a municipal supply. It has germs and aditives that get special attention in the stomach that helps a body deal. When an anal infusion is applied, as with coffee for example, those same things wind up where they are not intended normally. I have noticed a different smell in my waste when using poorly filtered water. I have even experienced a lingering after taste sensation from poorly filtered water, not very different to tasting what ever is applied analy as in peppermint or lavender thictured enemas.

To that same end, I don't like using the red made in China bags from the local stores either. Quality comfort is important to me.

I've given up soap almost entirely and routinely use plain water. It works well.

While there are many different opinions about whether or not tap water is safe for enemas, I can only speak from my own experience. I have used tap water for the 30+ years I have been taking enemas on a regular basis with no ill effects whatsoever. Oftentimes I'll add the requisite salt and baking soda or even some soap for a deep cleansing but the source of the water is still the same... from the tap.

I happen to live in an area with a very good water system and have never had any concerns. However, some systems are better than others and I would be cautious in areas where I was unfamiliar with water treatment protocols.

Have fun and play safe!

Deb

Plain tap water is all i have ever used and i have been taking enemas 50+ years

For as long as I can remember the enemas that i got whether from my mother, my wife, or doing solo has been with Ivory soap. It gives a great cleaning out plus the smell of it in the bathroom is very nostalgic especially if the empty bag is still hanging there.

I always use hot water from the kettle to top up the tap water in the bag mainly due to the fact my house has an old hot water tank system and you never know how long its been in there.

I have always used warm tap water for enemas, almost every day for more than 10 years, and have never had a problem.

I have always used warm tap water for many years now and have not had any problems.

It would be a good idea if all of you listed the town or city you live in as different places use different amounts of chlorine in their tap water.

In Ottawa, the water is fairly clean river water so it has a relatively low concentration of chlorine. We used an at home test kit to measure how "pure" the water is and it was the same a a bottle of Aquafina... It doesn't taste the same though.

I have always used plain tap water--nothing added to it. I had read about the need for salt in the solution, but never tried it. I sometimes felt a little strange afterwards, had a slight headache, and maybe other things. I knew today that when I finished, I would be working outside in the sun in 100F weather, and I decided it was not a good day to have a salt deficiency, so in each of my five 4 qt enemas, I put about 4 tsp of salt and spent 15-20 minutes filling myself, and retained them for perhaps another 15-20 minutes. I felt just fine all of the rest of the day, so I think I will make a point of putting salt in my tap water from here on out.

hankb

I have used tap water enemas all my life. If you are worried about chemicals use water out if the hot water faucet only. I was at my daughters house and water out of the cold water tap smelled like swimming pool water. Cold water out of the hot water tap had no odor. As our enema water comes from the hot water faucet, don't worry.