Is Bidet Water Contaminating My Sink and Shower?

Written By Meghan Oliver | Created September 6, 2024 | Updated September 6, 2024

We recently saw a post on Reddit wondering if it’s possible for water from your bidet seat to contaminate the flow to your sink, shower and other household fixtures. This is a question we get a lot! If you’re side-eyeing your bidet while reading this paragraph, never fear: The short answer is no. Read on and check out the video below with bidet expert Dan Johnson for all the (not-so-) dirty details!

Bidets = Showering and Brushing Your Teeth with Contaminated Water!?

The original query came from an apartment dweller who turned to Reddit after a plumber sent his wife into a bidet-related panic. The plumber claimed installing a bidet in an apartment was “illegal” because it would pollute the whole building’s water supply. He told the couple they were “showering and brushing [their] teeth with contaminated water.” 

Thankfully for the couple (and bidet enthusiasts everywhere), this is simply not true!

“Fact of the matter is that all homes have water pressure, and this forces water one way,” says Dan. “It forces water from the water source through to wherever you’re trying to use water. Because of that, it is very hard for any sort of debris to work itself backwards against all of that water pressure.”

Can Bidets Ever Contaminate Your Water?

The plumber wasn’t completely off his rocker. He was just missing some facts. There are a couple of instances where contamination could be a temporary concern:

  • If you have well water and lose power, the decrease in water pressure has the potential to cause issues for a short period of time.
  • In the event of a water main break, the extreme pressure drop could lead to water from your home’s plumbing fixtures being pulled into the main water supply.

So what’s the bottom line? The vast majority of the time, bidets pose no risk to your (or your neighbors’) water.

Protect Your Water with a Backflow Preventer

If you rely on a well for your water or just want some additional peace of mind, bidets with backflow preventers offer a worry-free way to get clean. Also called backflow breakers, these one-way valves are certified to only let water flow in one direction. In other words, water can go into the bidet seat, but it can’t make its way back into the main water line – even in the event of a power outage or water main break.

Only a handful of bidet seats have this handy feature. But the good news is that two of our favorites do! The Eco NOVA and Ultra NOVA provide an extra layer of protection with built-in backflow breakers. Both seats top our list of Best Bidets with their standout features and exceptional quality. They’re even eligible for our risk-free trial program, so you can test-drive them in your own bathroom for 60 days – no strings attached!

The best part? You and your family – and your plumber – can rest easy knowing there’s no chance of showering with used bidet water.

Have questions about backflow preventers or need help deciding which bidet to choose? Our bidet gurus have your back!

Meghan Oliver

Meghan Oliver is a writer and content manager with Many Bidets. Her work has appeared in Nonprofit World magazine and on Psych Central, but she specializes in behind-the-scenes content for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Meghan is passionate about conservation, creatures of all kinds and the Oxford comma. When she's not writing, she's probably at the barn, on a hiking trail, in her native garden bothering the pollinators(,) or curled up with a book and a cat.