How harmful is tap water vs pool water for your eyes? ?

Tap water would generally be safer for your eyes

Tap water would generally be safer for your eyes

Depends on water quality where you are.

Pool water has chemicals added for sanitation. These can sometimes cause eye irritation, particularly if excessive quantities are added. Under use of these chemicals can lead to infection.

While sterile, distilled water is the preferred option for bathing eyes as part of first aid treatment, where I live the water quality is such that tap water is fine and in high risk àreas, first aid eye wash stations are plumbed in to the main water supply.

My "tap" water is from my well. It's neutral PH with low total dissolved solids.  It's not irritating to the eyes at all. My pool is kept at a PH of near 7.0 and as little chlorine as possible. Even after prolonged exposure, I have no irritation or negative effects from this water.

Pool water has more chlorine in it, so it can be irritating to the eyes, depending on how sensitive your eyes are.  The worst case should be a little inflammation.  Tap water should not cause any problem, though it may be different in some places and times.  For instance, a few months ago we had a "boil water" advisory where I live, so I assume the water might not have been entirely safe then.

Not all tap water is created equal, nor is pool water. A well balanced and maintained pool should not bother ones eyes. Tap water has not only the treatment centers, but whatever is in those pipes to contend with. What works well in one area of the supply, may not be so great in another. So it all depends on what comes out of your tap.  They sell eye wash, that is what I use when there is a need.

Tap water is fairly safe for your eyes. The pool chlorine is a bit higher and it's going to irritate your eyes. There's a very easy solution to this simply where pool goggles.

They'll keep the chlorine out of your eyes.

Pool water can cause irritation due to the necessarily high chlorine content. Tap water doesn't contain anywhere near so much chlorine so rarely irritates.

Tap water (assuming it is clean) is not at all harmful to your eyes and you can rinse your eyes with it if you get something in your eye.  In fact it's important to do that if you get something harmful in your eye.  However pool water has chlorine in it which will damage your eyes (a small amount in low concentration is not a big deal but it can harm your eyes over time if you get a lot in your eyes or if it is in a harmful concentration).

Tap water is much cleaner than pool water. The pool water has been in your butt and is exposed to countless other elements.