Published on: December 15, 2025
There are many things to consider when you travel abroad. Packing the right clothes, booking flights and hotels, planning itineraries, and preparing medications are all important. One of the most common — and often overlooked — questions travelers ask is:
Is it safe to drink the tap water when you arrive at your destination?
Nothing ruins a trip faster than getting sick while traveling. And when it comes to illness abroad, it is not just about a few extra trips to the bathroom. Contaminated drinking water is one of the leading causes of travel-related illness worldwide, according to the CDC Travelers’ Health.
Polluted water can cause symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to serious bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. As residents of the Tampa Bay area, we recommend visiting a travel clinic before international travel so you can prepare properly and reduce health risks.
If you are planning an upcoming trip, we encourage you to visit the IDATB Travel Clinic to receive destination-specific guidance.
Why Does Drinking Water in Other Countries Make You Sick?
One of the most common questions travelers ask is: why does drinking water in other countries make you sick, even when locals drink it without issues?
In many cases, it is not just about whether water is “clean.” It is also about exposure to different microbes and pathogens that a traveler’s immune system is not used to. Locals may have built up tolerance over years of repeated exposure, while visitors may react strongly after even a small amount.
There are also real infrastructure and treatment differences between regions. In some places, water treatment may be inconsistent, pipes may be old, and contamination can occur between treatment facilities and the tap. Even in well-developed destinations, localized advisories can occur due to pipe breaks, flooding, or temporary treatment changes.
If you have ever wondered why they say not to drink the water when you go to another country, the safest answer is simple: travelers cannot reliably know what is in the tap water day-to-day, and the consequences of getting sick can derail an entire trip.
For pre-travel guidance, the CDC destination pages are a strong starting point.
Tap Water Regulation and Quality
In the United States, public drinking water (tap water) is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA, with standards for processing and bottling.
Worldwide, tap water safety varies significantly. Some countries promote their tap water as safe, while others issue public advisories against drinking it. In many cases, water safety is tied to infrastructure, treatment practices, and how consistently water systems are maintained.
Even if a city advertises chlorinated water, that does not automatically mean it is contaminant-free. Chlorine can reduce many pathogens, but it does not address every risk, such as certain parasites or some chemical contaminants. The WHO drinking-water fact sheet provides a useful overview of global drinking water concerns.
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?
The short answer is: it depends on where you are.
In some destinations, tap water may be safe for locals and visitors. In other areas, the tap water may be unsafe due to pathogens, inconsistent treatment, contaminated pipes, or environmental factors. If you are unsure, it is safer to avoid tap water and use bottled, boiled, or properly filtered water for:
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Drinking
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Brushing teeth and mouth care
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Rinsing fruits and vegetables
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Mixing infant formula
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Making ice and cold drinks
If you want evidence-based guidance, the CDC guidance on safe water practices is a reliable reference.
Can You Get Sick From Tap Water?
Yes — you can get sick from tap water if it contains harmful microbes or contaminants your body cannot tolerate.
Travelers commonly experience illness after exposure to waterborne pathogens. This can happen through drinking tap water directly, but it can also happen through indirect exposure such as:
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Ice cubes made from tap water
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Fresh produce rinsed in tap water (salads, fruit)
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Food prepared with untreated water
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Brushing teeth using tap water
It is important to remember that freezing does not kill many microbes. “On the rocks” can be just as risky as drinking the tap water itself.
If you are planning international travel, a pre-travel consultation at the IDATB Travel Clinic can help you understand the risks at your destination and how to reduce them.
Research Tap Water Before You Travel Internationally
Before traveling, review the water safety guidance for your destination and plan your habits accordingly. If your destination has water advisories or inconsistent treatment, plan to use bottled water for daily needs.
Resources worth checking before you depart:
If you are visiting multiple regions in one trip, keep in mind that water safety can differ between cities and rural areas.
Where Not to Drink Tap Water Abroad
Smart travelers research local conditions before they arrive. Water quality should be part of your travel planning, particularly if you will be traveling to remote areas where medical care may be limited.
Some destinations and regions have public warnings about water quality. One example list can be found here: warnings about the water quality.
Even within the same country, the water may be safer in major cities than in rural areas. For example, some travelers report safer water access in large city hotels, while rural villages may require boiling or bottled water. When in doubt, it is safer to rely on bottled water, boiling, or an approved filtration system.
If you are considering a filter, the CDC provides guidance on choosing filters you can trust: you can trust.
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink After Boiling?
Boiling is one of the most effective ways to kill many disease-causing microbes. If you are asking is tap water safe to drink after boiling, the answer is often yes for microbial risks — but boiling has limits.
Boiling can help reduce the risk from many bacteria, viruses, and parasites. However, boiling does not remove certain chemical contaminants or heavy metals (and in some cases, boiling can concentrate them as water evaporates). That is why destination research and local advisories matter.
For emergency guidance, refer to the CDC safe water instructions.
Does Boiling Water Make It Safe to Drink?
If you are wondering does boiling water make it safe to drink, boiling is a strong option for reducing microbial contamination — as long as it is done correctly.
The CDC recommends bringing water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute. At higher elevations, the CDC recommends boiling for longer. Always allow water to cool and store it in properly cleaned, airtight containers.
How to Safely Boil Water
Boiling water sounds straightforward, but safe boiling needs the right steps to eliminate microbes.
The CDC recommends:
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Bring water to a rolling boil
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Boil for at least one full minute
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If at high elevation, boil longer as recommended
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Let water cool naturally
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Store in airtight, sanitized containers
If your water is cloudy, filter it first using a cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. You can also allow sediment to settle, then boil the clearer water from the top and discard the sediment-heavy water.
Potential Illnesses From Dirty Tap Water
Waterborne contamination can lead to both mild and severe illness. According to the CDC overview of water-related diseases, exposure can cause gastrointestinal illness and other health complications.
Some general effects of waterborne illness include:
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Gastrointestinal illness
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Reproductive problems
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Neurological disorders
More acute symptoms that may appear quickly include:
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Diarrhoea
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Vomiting
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Severe nausea
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Fever
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Aches
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Chills
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Intestinal or stomach cramping
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Dehydration
If you experience these symptoms while traveling, seek medical care promptly — especially if symptoms worsen, persist, or are severe. Many cases improve within a few days, but dehydration and complications can be serious. Maintain hydration using safe fluids such as bottled water, properly boiled water, or electrolyte drinks. Avoid alcohol and caffeine while recovering.
For a high-level overview of waterborne illness, the NIH/NIAID waterborne diseases page is another credible resource.
Tampa Travel Clinic | Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay
Are you looking for a travel clinic in Tampa, FL? At Infectious Disease Associates of Tampa Bay, we provide guidance for international travelers to help reduce preventable travel health risks.
With over 30 years of experience and access to an in-house lab for necessary testing, our team helps travelers prepare for common concerns, including food and water safety.
If you have questions about contaminated water or travel-related illness prevention, please contact us at 813-251-8444.
