Water Safety Rules in Every Country

Tap water in Japan is completely safe to drink throughout the entire country.

Tap water is desalinated and technically safe to drink, but most residents and tourists use bottled water due to the heavy chlorination and taste.

Tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink — always use bottled or purified water, which is cheap and widely available everywhere.

Tap water in Germany is completely safe to drink throughout the entire country and meets some of the highest quality standards in Europe.

Tap water throughout the UK is excellent quality and completely safe to drink straight from the tap.

Tap water is completely safe to drink throughout France and is free at all restaurants by law when requested as a carafe d'eau.

Tap water in Australia is completely safe to drink and among the best quality in the world — no need to buy bottled water in any city.

Singapore tap water is completely safe to drink and is among the best quality in Asia — no bottled water needed.

Tap water is safe to drink in all Italian cities, and Rome's famous nasone street fountains provide free cold drinking water throughout the city.

Do not drink tap water in Turkey — bottled water is cheap, widely available, and essential for all visitors.

Do not drink tap water anywhere in Mexico — use bottled water, hotel garrafones, or a filtered water bottle.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, but tap water in the Canary Islands is not recommended for drinking.

Drink bottled or filtered water everywhere in Brazil — tap water is technically treated in major cities but most locals and all tourists should avoid drinking it directly.

Never drink tap water in India — always use sealed bottled water, and be cautious of ice and raw foods washed in local water.

Never drink tap water in China — always drink bottled or boiled water.

Tap water in South Korea is safe to drink and is among the cleanest in Asia, though many locals prefer bottled water by habit.

Never drink tap water in Vietnam — stick to bottled water, which is widely available and very cheap.

Tap water is safe to drink in Athens and most of the mainland, but many islands have unpleasant or brackish tap water — check locally.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout mainland Portugal and on the islands of Azores and Madeira.

Dutch tap water is among the best quality in the world — drink it freely from any tap without concern.

Tap water is safe and excellent quality throughout Canada's cities and towns — no need to buy bottled water.

Never drink tap water anywhere in Indonesia — bottled water is extremely cheap and widely available; Aqua is the most trusted brand.

Tap water in Malaysia is treated but drinking bottled water is strongly recommended — ice at tourist restaurants is generally safe.

Never drink tap water in Egypt — bottled water is cheap, widely available, and essential everywhere.

Do not drink tap water in Morocco — drink only sealed bottled water and be cautious with ice and raw salads at local establishments.

Tap water is desalinated and technically safe but heavily chlorinated — bottled water is cheap, widely available, and what most residents drink.

Tap water is technically safe but heavily desalinated and chemical-tasting — most residents and tourists drink bottled water, which is cheap and widely available.

Tap water is safe to drink in Cape Town and most major cities; check locally in townships and rural areas.

Tap water is completely safe to drink throughout all New Zealand towns and cities.

Never drink tap water in the Philippines — bottled water is cheap and widely available everywhere.

Tap water is safe to drink in Buenos Aires and most major cities, and Patagonia's glacier-fed tap water is exceptionally pure.

Tap water is not safe to drink in most of Colombia — always drink bottled or filtered water.

Tap water is safe to drink in San José and most developed areas, making Costa Rica one of the few Central American countries where this is reliable.

Never drink tap water anywhere in Peru — bottled or purified water is essential throughout the country, and altitude significantly increases your dehydration risk.

Swiss tap water is exceptional quality and among the world's safest — drink freely from taps everywhere and skip bottled water entirely.

Austrian tap water is exceptional — Vienna's supply comes directly from Alpine springs and is among the finest drinking water in Europe.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Czech Republic and Prague's supply is considered excellent quality.

Tap water is technically safe to drink in all major Polish cities, though many locals prefer bottled water due to older pipe infrastructure in some buildings.

Swedish tap water is among the world's best and completely safe to drink everywhere — bottled water is an unnecessary expense that most Swedes never purchase.

Norwegian tap water and mountain water are among the world's finest — drink freely from taps everywhere and safely from most mountain streams.

Croatian tap water is safe, clean, and excellent throughout the country — it is one of Europe's best tap water systems.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Hungary and Budapest's tap water quality is excellent.

Do not drink tap water in Jordan — bottled water is essential everywhere, and staying hydrated is critical given the desert climate.

Never drink tap water anywhere in Sri Lanka — drink sealed bottled water only and always check the seal before consuming.

Never drink tap water in Nepal — use bottled, filtered, or purified water at all times including on trekking routes.

Tap water in Hong Kong is safe to drink as it is treated and regularly tested, though many locals prefer filtered water due to older building pipes.

Do not drink tap water anywhere in the Maldives — bottled water is essential, and staying hydrated in the tropical heat is critical.

Never drink tap water anywhere in Kenya — bottled water is essential everywhere, and staying well hydrated on safari is a genuine health priority.

Never drink tap water anywhere in Tanzania — bottled or filtered water is essential, and purification tablets are necessary for remote trekking.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the US — it is one of the most tightly regulated drinking water systems in the world and bottled water is largely unnecessary.