Essentially, bamboo and cane is the same thing. They are both grasses in the Poaceae family of grass. There are hundreds of species of bamboos; however, most bamboo timber is sourced from the Phyllostachys and Bambusa genera. Most bamboo species are native to South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Those living in older homes should have their water tested to see if lead is a problem. Plastic pipe such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride, used for cold water only), and CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, used for both hot and cold water) have been around for years, and both are approved for use with drinking water.
Often, there are several different types of piping that can be used to achieve the same purpose. A good example is plumbing pipe. There are two main types of piping used for potable water, copper and PVC. Well supply piping is usually galvanized, but in some cases, plastic is acceptable.