Yes, but it’s also very unlikely. Examples of situations where this could occur are with marathon runners who drink excessive amounts of water during a marathon, failing to rehydrate with electrolyte (sports) drinks; people who consume excessive amounts of fluid due to participating in a prank or dare; or those who drink excessive amounts of water in an effort to counteract the effects of illegal drugs.

The average American is unlikely to consume water at a level that is dangerous. An example of drinking fluid at a dangerous level would be drinking close to two gallons of water per day, in conjunction with a low sodium intake. Doing so would dilute the regular sodium concentration of the body, and this interferes with nerve cell function. Symptoms include dizziness, convulsions, coma and possibly death.