Confused about Drinking Water

The water coming out of the taps in the EU, has to meet the same stringent standards that water in the US has to meet. You may drink the water everywhere in the EU.

In some places, such as Germany, the water is very hard, so if you boil it in a pan for a example, it leaves a bit of a lime deposit on the pan. This is not dangerous though. It is common to have Germans look at you funny if you say you want to drink tap water. It is simply because they prefer to drink mineral water as they think it tastes better.

If people tell you they got sick from the water or the minerals in it, they were simply looking for an excuse for why they were ill. This has no more foundations then if I came to the states and got ill and decided to blame it on the "new" minerals in it.

Kallie,

I've been to most of the countries you listed, and so far haven't had any problems drinking tap water (although I can't comment on Greece). I always buy a small bottle of water to keep in my Daysack, but when it's empty I just refill it from the tap.

As the previous post mentioned, the tap water in western European is much the same as we have here. These are not third world countries! Millions of Europeans seem to get by with it on a daily basis.

I once asked one of my Italian Instructors about drinking tap water (acqua rubinetto) in Italy. She looked at me with a look of terror and said "do you want to die". Despite that warning, I've had no problems so far in Italy. However one caveat - if a fountain says "non potabile", then it's NOT for drinking.

Many Europeans seem to enjoy bottled water (either carbonated or plain) in restaurants, but I'm not sure that's any indication that the water is bad. They may just prefer it?

Happy travels!

The only places in Europe where the water may not be potable are certain non-EU areas of the Balkans, and various regions of Russia. Travelers to St. Petersburg in the mid-1990s suffered from an outbreak of Giardia. The water is probably safe now, but the CDC has never officially lifted the travel warning.

It will be safe to drink everywhere on your trip unless there is a local problem, in which case they will tell you there's a problem.

Some of my favorite water is from the nase fountains in Rome. IMO as good as any bottled water anywhere.

I generally drink mineral water in Germany just because most people do. Their mineral water comes in ranges of fizz. I like the water with the least fizz.

There are a variety of minerals in different tap waters. I suppose someone who is hyper sensitive might notice the water moves through their system slower or faster but that isn't the same as getting sick from bacteria.

All the countries you listed are developed nations and have safe water. Dislike of tap water is cultural. Once when we were visiting friends in Belgium my husband was thirsty and headed to the sink for a glass a water. Our friend tried to stop him and give him bottled water instead. She was grossed out that my husband would drink tap water and said, "It's for animals!"

We brought our own refillable water bottles from home and refilled them from any tap we could find, and Never had a problem. I know that here at home (Toronto) the tap water is perfectly drinkable, but so many people are used to "Buying" their water in bottles, that the thought of drinking anything from the tap just doesnt sit well. I wouldnt worry.

My husband is English and says that they do drink Cold tap water in Europe but Hot isnt advisable as the high copper content in the piping can cause some copper absorbtion into the water once its hot.

Other than the danger areas mentioned above, it is a cultural/generational thing.

The was a time when it was NOT safe to drink the water, and many habits were set then that carry over to this date. There is also the "snob" appeal of ordering water in a bottle (at the same prices as colas!).

I often order carafes of tap water in France if I am really thirsty. A new law was passed recently requiring this option, which was fought tooth and nail by the restaurants and bottled water companies, of course. Youth seem comfortable with this, older people less so.

And bottled water DOES taste better, due to its consistent mixture of salts and other minerals. So if I am drinking for taste, at a quiet restaurant or cafe, I order bottled water.

By the way, Europeans do NOT drink fizzy water with dinner, only at cafes etc. Half fizzy or flat water is for dinner. The fizz is supposed to ruin the taste of the food. And Americans drink MUCH more water than Europeans on a daily basis.

Happy hydration!

I would consider myself somewhat susceptible to stomach upsets and never had any problem drinking tap water everywhere in France, Holland, and Italy. Just remember that in Italy it is acqua di rubinetto (More than once I raised several eyebrows when I mangled that into acqua di gabinetto--ie,Toilet) ;-)

Like Denny, I tend to have a "sensitive" system, and have never had a problem with water in Europe. I was not too keen to try water in Rome, but one day we were so hot and couldn't find a shop to buy bottled water that I drank from the fountains that Rick said were safe. Nothing happened to me!

I have heard of a few people getting sick because of the water, but I assume it was because they are more sensitive than others. Water is Europe is fine.I am not sure how it is for exemple in some rural areas in Russia or other Eastern European counties.I alwasy drink mineral water because I love it and so cheap.