Drinking water

I haven't been since 2019 but the public fountains were fine to fill up our bottles then. We will return to Italy this May and I am hopeful that is still the case. I'm anxious to see the comments of recent travelers.

Yes you can drink the water in Italy. In fact you are encouraged to fill your water bottles at fountains in Rome and elsewhere.

Yes, all city water in Italy is safe to drink. Bottled water is widespread , of course, and relatively inexpensive compared to some other countries, but it's less popular today in Italy compared to years past due to climactic concerns. Occasionally in rural areas, you may encounter a fountain that's not drinkable and there will be a sign, 'acqua non potabile'.

I haven’t an issue with any tap water in Western Europe. Some outdoor fountains will say whether the water is potable or not.

Water from the city fountains is safe to drink but I have to say since I live here 1/2 the year most Italians I know buy bottled water to use in their homes. I haven't noticed a reduction due to concern for the use of plastic in the past 6 years. Some restaurants do offer the possibility for a carafe of tap water but I haven't found it that common in most areas.

@Linda You couldn't be more right about the consumption of bottled water - Italian use doubled in the last 10 years. Climate change talk is cheap - and apparently so are my personal observations.

https://winenews.it/it/acqua-in-bottiglia-di-plastica-in-italia-vendite-raddoppiate-in-10-anni_411286/

Yes, generally the water is safe in Western Europe (they have the same standards as the US), but you still have to use your judgment. Big and medium cities generally have modern treatment standards. But smaller towns, and places in the countryside might not have the same controls, or have their own sources that are not as protected, even in the US. Then the water runs through pipes that may not be clean (or still made of lead) or old plumbing that can cause problems. Even then, tap water is not sterile, so there can be local microbes or minerals that can upset stomachs that are unused to them.

@Linda surprised that bottled water use is going up (oh well, we all know what happened in US during covid - bottle water rations at big box stores) - do you think its for convenience or are there other concerns?

But smaller towns, and places in the countryside might not have the same controls,

Stan, you obviously know nothing about how water is managed in Italy. Controls are made by Regional Companies and not by each city.

Who would ever dream of parcelling aqueduct's ownership and controls among 7,904 municipalities who have been deeply hating each other for 1,500 years?

As long as you remain in the same area, You drink the exact same water in cities, towns, villages and hamlets. In Sicily water su##s in big Palermo just like it su##s in small Licata.

do you think its for convenience or are there other concerns?

To Italians, asking for tap water in a restaurant would be like holding a sign saying: "Cheap and proud". It has nothing to do with the environment, the controls and so on: It's just not done. Frankly, I doubt there are many proper restaurants that put plastic bottles on the table, sparkling or not mineral water is served in glass bottles.

I’ve seen individuals drinking from fountains with their mouths touching it. I avoid all fountain water.

Thank you for the correction Dario, I was assuming it was like the US, where we have a mix of different systems - public, private, municipal and regional.

I’ve been to IT seven times and drank tap water every time.

mlw,

I've been to Italy many times and always used tap water (acqua di rubinetto) when in hotels without any problems. If using public water fountains, those that are safe for drinking should be clearly marked with a sign that says “acqua potabile.” If water is considered unsafe to drink, it will be labelled “acqua non potabile.”

When dining in restaurants I always order at least a 75 cl or 1 L. bottle of acqua naturale. I prefer that to tap water as by the time I sit down for a meal, I'm usually tired and thirsty from a long day of touring, and I'm ready for a bottle of well chilled water.

This made me think of our first trip to Europe in 1966, where drinking tap water was not encouraged. i rinsed my toothbrush when staying in Venice and paid the price.

The last time we were in Italy we drank tap water everywhere we went. Bottle water can be expensive. We grabbed a slice of pizza from a storefront cafe in San Gimignano. I was going to get bottled water, but a bottle of beer was cheaper. My Scots nature took over and I went for the beer.

We lived in Germany for four years (87-91) and traveled all over Europe. Also, since 2010 when I retired, we have been to Europe once or twice a year except for COVID years. We always drink tap water in Western Europe.

I would not do that in Eastern Europe.