Tap water in some countries can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and pollutants – so it is always best to check beforehand if you can drink tap water.
When planning your dream holiday or ticking off a destination from your bucket list, the safety of the local tap water might not be your top concern. However, drinking unsafe water can quickly turn your dream trip into a nightmare.
Not only can it upset your stomach, but it can also leave you feeling quite poorly. The experts at Travelbag have done some digging into water quality, bottled water prices, and Google search data to identify which countries you should steer clear of when it comes to drinking tap water.
They also surveyed 2,000 Brits to find their understanding and attitudes towards the safety of tap water abroad.
Their research revealed that nearly half of Brits will only drink bottled water abroad, even if the tap water in that country is safe to drink. Yet, only 15 percent of Brits are confident they know where they can and cannot safely drink water abroad, reports the Express.
Moreover, a whopping 80 percent don’t bother researching tap water safety before jetting off to a new destination.
Given this uncertainty, it’s no surprise that many adopt a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach, with 45 percent confessing to opting for bottled water only while on holiday.
Let’s look into the destinations where you’re better off avoiding tap water due to its low-quality score. In these places, you’re safer sticking to bottled water.
1. India
Tap water in India is among the least safe worldwide, with a water quality score of a mere 19.4 out of 100. The water is notorious for carrying bacteria, viruses, and pollutants.
Cost of 1.5-litre bottled water (£) – £0.30
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 19.4
2. South Africa
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water -£0.65
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 24.6
3. Indonesia
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water -£0.45
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 28.4
4. Brazil
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.55
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 46.1
5. Maldives
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.45
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 47.8
6. Turkey
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.25
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 52.6
7. Vietnam
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.40
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 52.7
8. Mexico
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.90
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 52.8
9. Thailand
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.25
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 55.8
10. Saudi Arabia
The cost of a 1.5-litre bottle of water – £0.65
Water quality score (EPI) out of 100 – 59.3
Interestingly, despite France boasting an impressive EPI (environmental performance index) water quality score of 96.2, a whopping 79 percent of Brits believe that its tap water isn’t safe to drink.
Despite Germany boasting some of the world’s cleanest water, with a quality score of 99, a staggering 76 percent of Brits reckon it’s not safe to drink.
Similarly, Australia, which has a water quality score of 87 out of 100, sees 72 percent of Brits sceptical about its tap water.