IMPORTANT
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pouring drink in restaurant

Africa

It is advised you boil all drinking water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals; avoid ice cubes. Tap water is only safe for consumption in urban areas of South Africa but check before you drink it.

Antarctica

It is advised you take bottled water with you on expeditions.

Argentina

It is recommended you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water with intact seals and avoid ice cubes.

Australia

Tap water in Australia is safe for consumption.

Austria

Tap water in Austria is safe for consumption.

Brazil

A severe drought in Sao Paulo state has affected water quality. Use bottled water for drinking and cooking, avoid ice cubes, and do not swim in fresh water.

Cambodia

Tap water is not safe for consumption in Cambodia; boil all drinking water or drink bottled water with seals intact and avoid ice cubes.

Canada

Tap water is safe for consumption in Canada.

Caribbean

Tap water is safe to drink on most popular island destinations but not in Cuba. Unless you are certain local water is safe you shouldn’t consume it, drink bottled water with seals intact and avoid ice cubes.

Chile

It is recommended you boil water or drink bottled water in Chile, particularly when hiking or in rural areas.

child drinking water

China

Tap water in China may not be safe to drink, depending on your location. Travellers are advised to drink only bottled water with intact seals.

Croatia

Tap water is generally safe to drink in major cities, but water quality is variable in rural areas where it is recommended you boil drinking water or drink only bottled water.

Denmark

Tap water is safe for consumption in Denmark.

Estonia

The tap water in Estonia is safe for consumption.

Fiji

It is advised you drink bottled water to minimise the risk of food poisoning or water-borne disease in Fiji.

France

Tap water is safe for consumption in France.

Germany

Tap water in Germany is safe for consumption, although many locals still prefer to drink bottled water.

Greece

Tap water in Athens should be safe for consumption, but it is advised you drink bottled water on the islands and more remote locations.

Greenland

Tap water is safe for consumption in Greenland.

Hungary

The tap water in Hungary is safe for consumption.

Iceland

Icelandic tap water is safe for consumption, and is in fact some of the cleanest in the world.

water fountain

India

Tap water in India is not safe to drink. It is advised you boil all drinking water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals; avoid ice cubes.

Indonesia

Take care not to drink tap water in Indonesia. Boil all drinking water before consumption or only drink bottled water with intact seals. Also consider brushing your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice cubes. This can help you avoid the dreaded Bali Belly.

Ireland

It is safe to drink the tap water in Ireland.

Italy

Italy’s tap water is clean and safe to consume.

Japan

The tap water in Japan is safe for consumption.

Malaysia

It is advised you boil all drinking water or drink only bottled water in Malaysia and avoid ice cubes.

Mexico

Tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink. It is advised you boil all drinking water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals; avoid ice cubes.

Nepal

Take care not to drink tap water in Nepal. Boil all drinking water before consumption or only drink bottled water with intact seals. Also consider brushing your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice cubes.

New Zealand

The tap water in New Zealand is safe for consumption.

Peru

It is advised you boil all drinking water or drink only bottled water in Peru and avoid ice cubes.

Philippines

It is advised you boil all drinking water or drink only bottled water in the Philippines and avoid ice cubes.

Poland

Tap water is safe for consumption in Poland.

Portugal

Tap water is safe for consumption in Portugal.

Qatar

Water quality in Qatar is improving all the time, and it is considered fairly safe to drink tap water there. However, if in doubt, stick to bottled water.

Russia

It is advised you boil all tap water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals and avoid ice cubes.

South Korea

Tap water in South Korea is generally safe.

Spain

Tap water is safe for consumption in major cities in Spain, however it is advised you drink bottled water in more rural or remote areas of the country.

Sri Lanka

Take care not to drink tap water in Sri Lanka. Boil all drinking water before consumption or only drink bottled water with intact seals. Also consider brushing your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice cubes.

Switzerland

Switzerland has some of the cleanest and safest water in the world and is very fit for consumption.

Taiwan

It is recommended you boil water or drink bottled water in Taiwan, and make sure to adequately protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Thailand

Take care not to drink tap water in Thailand. Boil all drinking water before consumption or only drink bottled water with intact seals. Also consider brushing your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice cubes.

Turkey

It is advised you boil all tap water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals.

United Arab Emirates

Tap water in UAE is considered safe, however many locals and tourists still prefer to drink bottled water.

United Kingdom

Tap water is safe for consumption in the United Kingdom.

Uruguay

It is advised you boil all tap water before consumption or drink only bottled water with intact seals and avoid ice cubes.

United States of America

Tap water in the United States is safe for consumption.

Vietnam

Take care not to drink tap water in Vietnam. Boil all drinking water before consumption or only drink bottled water with intact seals. Also consider brushing your teeth with bottled water, and avoid ice cubes.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Gunnar Grimnes.

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