How Does Water Safety Work in Morocco?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
Do not drink tap water in Morocco — drink only sealed bottled water and be cautious with ice and raw salads at local establishments.
2What You Need to Know
Tap water in Morocco is not safe for tourists to drink and is a common cause of traveller's diarrhoea. Bottled mineral water is cheap, widely available, and essential — Sidi Ali and Oulmes are the main Moroccan brands. Be cautious with ice in drinks at local establishments as it may be made from tap water; ice at tourist hotels and restaurants is generally safe. Raw salads and fruit washed in tap water at street stalls carry risk. Brushing teeth with bottled water is advisable if you have a sensitive stomach.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Buy a 1.5-litre bottle of Sidi Ali or Oulmes at a convenience store for 5-8 MAD — far cheaper than hotel minibar prices — and refill as needed throughout the day.
- 2Avoid fresh fruit juice from street vendors unless you watch it being made from whole fruit — pre-made juice in medinas is often diluted with tap water.
- 3Carry oral rehydration sachets in your medical kit — stomach upsets from food and water adjustments are extremely common in Morocco even with precautions.
Important Warning
Tap water is unsafe to drink throughout Morocco — always drink sealed bottled water and treat ice and raw vegetables at local stalls with caution.
How does this compare?
Water Safety rules in nearby and similar countries:
Tap water is desalinated and technically safe to drink, but most residents and tourists use bottled water due to the heavy chlorination and taste.
Never drink tap water in Egypt — bottled water is cheap, widely available, and essential everywhere.
Tap water is desalinated and technically safe but heavily chlorinated — bottled water is cheap, widely available, and what most residents drink.
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