The Tap Water Burn Resource Center was established to make the public aware of the dangers from overheated tap water.  The culprit is the hot water heater, which can be set to heat water to well above 150° F, because many people are not aware of how to set the thermometer or are unaware that its default temperature setting is too high for human contact.

The overriding goal of ATLA and its members is to provide people with information necessary to protect themselves, as well as representation of the highest quality when an injury does result due from the action of others.  Whether the issue involves a complex lawsuit or a claim for benefits, the best interest of the clients always comes first.  When approaching a case where someone has suffered burns from tap water, our members who litigate cases in this area will thoroughly research the issues and discuss the options with you.

Our member attorneys will determine as quickly and efficiently as possible the merits of the claim (whether it is actionable and the possibility for compensation).   Being burned by tap water is a serious proposition.  It is possible for people to get third degree burns from contact with tap water in the home.

Toddlers and young children are at the highest risk of being scalded by hot water.  It is easy to receive third degree burns from exposure to hot tap water, which comes from not only hot drinks and pots cooking on the stove, but from bath water.  An approximate one-second exposure to 160° F water will result in third degree burns.¹  Where the water is 130° F, an approximate half-minute exposure will result in third degree burns.²   This is the reason that the Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that water heaters be set to a maximum temperature of 120° F, even though an approximate ten minute expsoure to water heated to this temperature can result in third degree burns.

A safe temperature for hot water is 110° F, which exposure to results in third degree burns in approximately ten hours.³   Even though this is a 'relatively-safe' temperature, exposure to water set at 110° F is painful; the human pain threshold is around 106-108° F.  It is important to remember that 212° F is the boiling point of water, meaning that the temperatures at which exposure to water will result in burns is much less than the boiling point of water.

According to data from the National Safe Kids Campaign, 4000-5,000 children are scalded each year, most often in bathtubs.  The average bathtub scal burn covers 12% of the body surface with a full thickness third degree burn.   Statistics from the National Safe Kids Campaign indicate that the scald burn sources were 95% residential settings, 54% in apartment house, and 46% in single family homes.⁴

^{We hope that you find this resource valuable.   Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.}

Tap water burns, burns, tap water, home safety, personal injury,  hot water, hot water heater, injury, lawyers, attorney, product safety,  injury, Indiana, ATLA, American Trial Layers' Association

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1.  Domestic Hot Water Scald Burn Lawsuits - The Who, What, When, Why, Where How; Dr, D. Bynum Jr, Vernon J. Petri, et. al.; Annual ASPE Meeting; Indianapolis, Indiana; October 25-28, 1998.

2.  Id.

3.  Id.

4. Id.

Tap water burns, burns, tap water, home safety, personal injury,  hot water, hot water heater, injury, lawyers, attorney, product safety,  injury, Indiana, ATLA, American Trial Layers' Association