Is It Safe to Drink the Water When Traveling?
QUICK ANSWER
In many destinations, tap water may not be safe to drink and can cause traveler's diarrhea and other illness. To stay safe, drink only bottled, sealed beverages, avoid ice made from tap water, and use boiled or treated water where sanitation is poor. In developed countries, tap water is usually safe.
Whether the water is safe to drink is one of the most important health questions when traveling. Here is how to know if water is safe, what to drink instead, how to treat water, and other precautions. This is general information, not medical advice; see a provider if you become ill.
Is it safe to drink the water when traveling?
Whether tap water is safe to drink depends heavily on your destination. In many countries, particularly those with less developed sanitation infrastructure, tap water may be contaminated and can cause traveler's diarrhea and other illnesses, so it is not safe to drink. In developed countries with reliable water treatment, tap water is generally safe. Because standards vary widely, and can even differ within a country or by activity, you should check the guidance for your specific destination rather than assuming. When you are unsure whether local water is safe, it is best to treat it as potentially unsafe and stick to bottled or treated water. Contaminated water and food are among the most common causes of illness in travelers, so taking sensible precautions with what you drink is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy on your trip.
What should you drink instead?
When tap water may not be safe, choose reliably safe beverages. According to CDC, travelers should drink only bottled, sealed beverages and avoid ice, since ice is likely made with tap water. Sealed commercially bottled water and drinks are a safe choice, as are hot beverages like coffee and tea made with boiled water, and canned or bottled carbonated drinks. Avoid tap water, drinks made with tap water, and ice cubes in areas where the water is not safe. Be cautious with fountain drinks and diluted juices that may use local water. When buying bottled water, check that the seal is intact. Sticking to sealed bottled beverages, hot drinks, and other reliably treated options, while avoiding ice and untreated tap water, greatly reduces your risk of waterborne illness in destinations where the water supply cannot be trusted.
How do you make water safe to drink?
If safe bottled water is not available, you can make water safer through treatment. Boiling water is a reliable method, as bringing it to a rolling boil kills disease-causing organisms; let it cool before drinking. Portable water filters designed for travel can remove many contaminants, and chemical disinfection using water disinfection tablets or drops, such as those with iodine or chlorine dioxide, can treat water where boiling is not practical, following the product instructions. Some travelers carry these tablets or a filter for trips to areas with unsafe water. Combining methods can improve effectiveness. Using treated water not just for drinking but also for brushing your teeth and making ice is important in high-risk areas. Knowing how to boil, filter, or chemically treat water gives you safe options when reliably bottled water is unavailable, helping you avoid illness in remote or higher-risk destinations.
What other water precautions should you take?
Beyond what you drink, several related precautions help you avoid waterborne and foodborne illness. Use safe, bottled, or treated water for brushing your teeth in areas where tap water is unsafe, and keep your mouth closed in the shower to avoid swallowing water. Be careful with food that may have been washed in or made with untreated water, such as raw fruits and vegetables you cannot peel yourself, and follow CDC's advice to eat food that is fully cooked and served hot. Avoid ice in drinks unless you know it was made from safe water. When swimming, avoid swallowing water, and do not swim in fresh water in areas with poor sanitation. If you do become ill with symptoms like diarrhea, stay hydrated and seek medical care if it is severe or persistent. These precautions, combined with safe drinking water, protect you from the most common travel illnesses.
In many destinations tap water may not be safe and can cause illness, so drink only bottled, sealed beverages, avoid ice, and use boiled, filtered, or chemically treated water where sanitation is poor, including for brushing your teeth. In developed countries tap water is usually safe. Check your destination and see a provider if you become ill, as this is general information, not medical advice.
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