Do you drink the tap water in other developed countries? (to buy, dangerous)

[ragnarkar]

I've drank the tap water in the US, most Western European countries (except Italy), Hungary, and Hong Kong. The last 2 were a bit risky and I got a little sick from drinking the tap in Hong Kong (but not in Hungary.)

I also might have gotten sick from the tap in Switzerland and Germany in the beginning of my trip there but had no problem after being acclimated to the local bacteria after a while.

What's your experience with the tap water in other developed countries? (I would never drink the water in developing countries like Mexico, Russia, China, Brazil, etc.) It seems even if locals find the water safe, you might still get sick due to the different bacteria present.

[Ariete]

If you're staying for a very short time, I don't suggest drinking foreign tap water, at least the first couple of days. Not that it wouldn't be drinkable, is as you said, the bacteria culture is so different. You'll get used to the water when eating, drinking coffee and so on, but to be on the safe side, give your body a few days to adapt. On the other hand, I've drunk three different nations' tap water during one day, from Southern to Northern Europe and a connecting flight in-between, and had no problems whatsoever.

Bottled water is certainly not very environmentally friendly, but still suggest you refrain from tap water a few days, and be especially careful in countries that are very far. Kids of course should have at least double the adjusting period.

[viribusunitis]

Whenever water smells like chlorine, I refrain from drinking it. So yeah... I don't drink tap water in most of Southern and Eastern Europe. Drinking tap water in Siena once ruined an entire week for me. Never again... I was also quite cautious when I visited the larger US cities, although it probably would've been safe to drink some.
I drank small amounts of tap water during my time in Hong Kong. Usually when I went out the night before and didn't want to go to 7-Eleven to buy some drinks. Didn't taste good, but never got sick.

[Jesse44]

Kind of unrelated, but whatever. I seldom get sick from eating anything, and I like to think my immune system is pretty great, so when I arrived in Mexico City last spring I came in guns blazing and eating and drinking everything that might have had tap water or uncooked veg in it.

Two days later, worst digestion issues of my life.

[kronan123]

Only time i've had problem drinking tap water in an I-country was in Barcelona. Not because it was dangerous (it was chlorided) but it tasted disgusting.

[Juice Malone]

Sweden has some of the cleanest tap water, they drink from the pipe. I think other Nordic countries do also, but I am not sure.

[kronan123]

Originally Posted by Juice Malone

Sweden has some of the cleanest tap water, they drink from the pipe. I think other Nordic countries do also, but I am not sure.

yupp, thats true. same goes for finland and norway. guess it has to do with the abundance of fresh-water lakes. are around 100 000 of them here in sweden atleast.

[Chava61]

I have drunk tap water in the USA, several Western European countries and in Israel without having any problems.

When I was in Ecuador I drank only boiled tap water or bottled water. In China I only drank bottled water.

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[kevxu]

Originally Posted by ragnarkar

...What's your experience with the tap water in other developed countries? ...

Sure I drink it.

And for my fussy British and American guests who want to drink only bottled water I am happy to oblige. I bring out a nice bottle of water that comes straight from my kitchen tap into an old spring water bottle that I keep for these special occasions. No one has gotten sick.

[jtur88]

I drink tapwater in UNdeveloped countries, mostly. Some I don't, but just about everywhere in Latin America. Everywhere in Mexico, the tapwater is good. I think everywhere in Southeast Asia, too, as I recall. There are a few places where I do not, in low-lying jungle areas that have a lot of flooding. It is safe to drink water right out of the Amazon River.

I got sick a few times, but very likely not from the tapwater, bur from improperly handled food or maybe even doorknobs.

Most undeveloped countries where people drink bottled water, the reason is heavy metals and other chemicals, not pathogens. But you'd have to drink it all your life in order to build up enough of those impurities to have any health effects. So most Mexicans drink bottled water. But a temporary visitor doesn't need to worry about the impurities in the water.