In the UK most kitchen and bathroom sinks have two taps, one for hot and one for cold, rather than a combined mix.
But why do we have two taps!?
Since the cold water comes directly from the water mains (the network of pipes which provide water to all the houses) you can be sure to get cold drinking water. The hot water tap likely supplies water from a hot water tank which may contain stagnant, contaminated water and so the two shouldn't be mixed.