One of the first things we hear about when discussing international travel plans with friends or family is the reminder that it’s not safe to drink the water.  So, how true is this?  To which locations does this apply?  Do the locals drink their own water?  What can you do to stay healthy?  Let’s discuss…..

How true is this?  I’m sure you’re aware that this is quite true.  Unclean water (and food!) can cause the lovely travelers’ diarrhea, which can ruin several days of your trip or cause even worse complications.  The standard DO’s and DONT’s are as follows:

DO

• Eat food that is cooked and served hot
• Eat fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself
• Eat pasteurized dairy products only
• Drink bottled beverages
• Drink hot coffee or tea (boiled)
• Drink pasteurized milk only
• Drink beverages with ice made from bottled water

DON’T

• Eat food served at room temperature
• Eat food from street vendors
• Eat raw eggs or meat
• Eat unpeeled fruits or vegetables
• Eat salads or condiments (i.e. salsa) made with fresh ingredients
• Eat flavored ice or popsicles
• Eat bush-meat (monkey, bat, other wild game)
• Drink tap or well water
• Drink fountain drinks or juices made with tap or well water

* Keep in mind while swimming, bathing, and brushing your teeth, that swallowed or inhaled unclean water can pose a risk to your health.

* Also keep in mind that your current age and state of health can affect how you react to different contaminants.

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To which locations does this apply?  Tap-water potability is dependent on the age and quality of the pipes that bring it to your tap.  Here is a list of a few popular global destinations, and the quality of their tap-water:

Absolutely Drinkable Water:

Austria                             Ireland                            San Marino
Belgium                           Liechtenstein                  Serbia
Croatia                            Lithuania                         Singapore
Czech Republic               Luxembourg                    Slovakia
Denmark                         Macedonia                       Slovenia
Estonia                            Malta                               South Africa
Finland                            Monaco                           Spain
France                             Netherlands                    Sweden
Germany                          Norway                           Switzerland
Iceland                             Poland                            United Kingdom
Italy                                  Portugal

Semi-Drinkable Water:

Australia – tap-water is safe, but drinking water in nature is not recommended
Bulgaria – safe to drink in main cities, avoid if you are rural
Costa Rica – safe in the cities, not rural areas
Gibraltar – safe to drink, but chlorinated, so not delicious
Greece – safe in major cities, drink bottled water on the islands
Hungary – okay to drink in Budapest, avoid it if you are rural
Japan – fine to drink, but has a bad taste
Romania – safe to drink in major cities

Do Not Drink

(But Okay for Brushing Teeth / Cooking):
Bosnia                             Montenegro
Belarus                            Morocco
Brazil                               Portugal
China                               Russia
Herzegovina                    Thailand
Mexico

Bottled Water ONLY:

Egypt – don’t drink, brush with bottled water only
India – no water… the locals can handle it but you can not!
Malaysia – hit and miss, would suggest sticking to bottled water
Turkey – do not drink the water, might want to brush with bottled water
Ukraine – don’t drink the water, and you also shouldn’t use it for brushing your teeth

Now I get the feeling that reading all of this may be enough to deter you from ever leaving the safety and security of your own country. However, I’d like to reassure you that with the proper mix of caution and preparation, any trip can be a healthy trip.

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Do the locals drink their own water?  In many developing countries, the locals, just like you, are not able to enjoy their own tap-water.  This is a good thing for you as a visitor, as it means most establishments will use bottled water for cooking and cleaning, and will have clean ice shipped in for beverages.  It is advisable to ask them about the ice first though, just to be sure.

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What can I do to stay healthy?  Be smart.  Don’t be afraid, but be smart.  I admit, when I spent time in Thailand, I broke some of the rules.  We didn’t drink any of the water.  We showered, swam, and brushed our teeth with the tap-water, but avoided swallowing any of it.  However, the food was a different story.  We did end up eating salads, and trying different meats, and buying food from street vendors.  If a vendor looked especially unsanitary, we’d move on to the next one of course, but I strongly feel that leaving your comfort zone is a big part of traveling.  Plus we discovered some new favorite foods because of it, so I’m glad we took a few chances.

In addition to being cautious, I suggest being prepared.  We both took a dose of Dukoral before our departure, and would do so again.  I can’t say for sure that we didn’t get sick BECAUSE of the Dukoral, but it certainly didn’t hurt.  It does have to be taken weeks before your travel though, so look into it as soon as you start planning a trip.

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What has your experience been with drinking water in foreign countries?  Have you taken some risks, or played it safe?  If you have any additional tips or comments, please join in the conversation!  Thanks for reading – and safe travels!!