Being at home while it’s thundering outside can make you want to take a hot, relaxing shower. But science and public health authorities warn that whenever thunder is heard nearby, you should avoid contact with water and plumbing, even indoors. If lightning strikes the building, the electric current can travel through the pipes and reach anyone in the shower, bathtub or near a tap.
Why bathing is not harmless during a thunderstorm
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is not safe to shower during an electrical storm. If lightning strikes the building structure or nearby facilities, the energy can travel through the plumbing network and reach consumption points, such as showers and taps. Anyone who is in contact with water or metal elements in the plumbing is therefore more exposed to a high-intensity electric shock.
How lightning enters your home through plumbing
When lightning strikes a neighboring house or building, the current always looks for the easiest path to reach the ground. Metallic reinforcement, electrical installation and pipes are part of these preferential routes. The water that circulates in the pipes acts as an additional conductor, creating a kind of extension of the discharge to the interior of the home.
Even in newer buildings, where part of the distribution network is made of plastic materials, the warning remains. Authorities recommend staying away from the plumbing while there is audible thunder, which includes avoiding showers, immersion baths, washing hands and dishes connected directly to the network.
Water, mineral salts and electricity: a risky combination
In theory, pure water is a poor conductor of electricity. In practice, the water that reaches the taps contains mineral salts and other dissolved substances that facilitate the passage of the current. This is the case with public water and bottled mineral water, both rich in ions that improve electrical conductivity.
Scientific work released by European researchers, cited by the news agency, also shows that, when water is confined in very small spaces, it can become much more conductive than under normal conditions and store significant amounts of electrical energy. This behavior helps to understand why, in certain contexts, water can transport discharges with great efficiency.
Shower, dishes and sink: activities to avoid
The experts’ warning is not limited to showering. Any activity that involves direct contact with water connected to the mains during a thunderstorm is not recommended. Washing the dishes, filling a bucket, taking a bath or simply keeping your hands under the tap are examples of practices to avoid during the most intense phase of the storm.
In addition to traveling through the pipes, the current can also use metal structures associated with sanitary equipment. Mixers, taps and supports can become discharge points, especially if they are connected to conductive elements inside the walls.
What consequences can a shock of this type have?
Clinical reports from lightning victims describe cases of sudden cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, burns and, among survivors, neurological sequelae, loss of muscle strength and memory problems, whether temporary or long-lasting. When the shock occurs in water, the momentary incapacity added to the liquid environment increases the risk even further, even in bathtubs or shower trays indoors.
When is it safest to return to the shower
Entities that issue thunderstorm safety recommendations suggest waiting some time after the last audible thunder before resuming normal water use. The rule of thumb is to wait around half an hour after the last boom, during which time the storm cloud will have moved far enough away from the area in question.
Although the likelihood of such an episode is low, the consequences can be serious. Staying away from water and pipes while thunderstorms are heard is, therefore, a simple way to reduce the risk. The relaxing shower can be left for later, when the thunder has passed and the storm is far away.
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