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Is tap water safe around the world? |
In developed countries, piped water of high quality is continuously available to household connections. Nevertheless, in spite that most cities and large towns around the world have large piped water systems, tap water is only safe to drink if it has been fully treated and desinfected, and all the water system is well operated and maintained. These conditions of water supply are, globally in the world, the exception rather than the rule,quotting the World Health Organization
(WHO),in their "Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 1993".It is estimated that over one-third of the urban water supplies in Africa, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, and more than half those in Asia, operate intermittently.
Also, the United Nations Environmental Program
(UNEP) said:
 | "Every eight seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease; |
| 50 percent of people in developing countries suffer from one or more water related diseases; |
| 80 percent of the diseases in the developing world are caused by contaminated water; |
| 50 percent of people on Earth lack adequate sanitation; |
| 20 percent of freshwater fish species have been pushed to the edge of extinction by contaminated water" |
According to the "World Bank’s World Development Indicators 1997", between 1985 and 1993, 24 countries have seen their urban population’s access to safe drinking water decrease.
The safety of tap water needs to be determined on the basis of water quality monitoring, and evidence of effective treatment. This is not always guaranteed if you will be
traveling in countries other than Western Europe, USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.
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How do hotels and resorts get their tap water? |
Hotels and resorts located where piped water systems are safe, get their tap water from them. In other areas where the systems are not reliable, or there are not public systems, hotels and resorts have their own treatment
systems. The source of water for them could be the public system or their own source, such as underground wells or springs.
Is important the proper maintenance and operation of the own treatment and distribution systems.
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Can I find out if tap water is safe to drink by tasting or smelling it? |
You cannot see, smell or taste the germs and other contaminants. Because of water’s different sources and the different ways in which water is treated, the taste and quality of drinking water varies from place to place. Even in areas where the tap water is safe to drink the level of chemical treatment may be sufficient to render it unpalatable to travelers from developed countries. Common complaints about water aesthetics include temporary cloudiness (typically caused by air bubbles) or chlorine taste
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How will a traveler know if tap water is safe to drink? |
The hotel or resort owner, or operator, must notify you if tap water meets internationally
accepted drinking water standards (such EPA or WHO standards) or if there is a waterborne disease emergency.
In the section "Is water Safe in?",
SWIT brings public available information of water quality regarding health, from sources like World Health
Organization
(WHO) and the U.S.Center for Diseases
Control
(CDC), but that information only gives a general idea of how safe is tap water in an
area. If there is no specific notice of your hotel owner or
operator, or you don't trust it, better safe than
sorry.
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How can I know what is risky to do, if tap water is not safe? |
See "Frequently Asked Questions" to know if is risky toothbrushing, taking a shower, etc, and how to take care where tap water is not safe.
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What can I do if I need to use unsafe tap water? |
Boiling is the most reliable method to make water safe to drink. Bring water to a vigorous boil, and then allow it to cool; do not add ice. At high altitudes, allow water to boil vigorously for a few minutes or use chemical disinfectants. Adding a pinch of salt or pouring water from one container to another will improve the taste. Portable boiling coils are very
useful for boiling water in hotel rooms.
Chemical disinfection can be achieved with either iodine or chlorine, in spite that are often ineffective if the water is visibly cloudy. Iodine provides greater disinfection in a wider set of circumstances (chlorine based are less effective against amoebic cysts than
iodine). If the water is cloudy, then strain it through a clean cloth and double disinfectant dose added. If the water is very cold, either warm it or allow increased time for disinfectant to work.
For disinfection with iodine, use either tincture of iodine(4 drops of 2% tincture of iodine should be added to each liter of water and left for 15 minutes) or tetraglycine hydroperiodide tablets (such as Globaline®* and Potable-Aqua®*). These
disinfectants can be found in sporting goods stores and pharmacies. Read and follow the manufacturer’s
instructions. Prolonged use of iodine should be avoided (longer than 6 weeks).
If you have not iodine or you can not use it, use household bleach (2 to 4 drops per litre of clear water) and leave for 15 minutes. This is safe and effective but will taste of
chlorine (which can be improved by letting the water stand exposed to the air for a
while). Chlorine tabs (as Sterotabs and Puritabs)
could let less bad taste.
The water from the hot tap in your hotel is likely to be safer than the water from the cold tap. Run it for a minute or so first. It can be used for not swallowing uses, as brushing
teeth, in an emergency.
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How can I test my tap water? |
If you are going to stay in a place for a long time, could be wise that you test your tap water, if you don't trust the hotel owner or operator.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. As long as they occur below EPA’s or WHO's standards, they don’t pose a significant threat to health, although people with severely compromised immune systems and children may have special needs.
You have to test for specific contaminants that can vary from city to city, or any other contaminant you’re concerned about. The most important safety concern is from organisms that cause diseases. These organisms, called pathogens, are difficult to address because there are so many varieties that it would not be feasible to test for all of them individually. Instead, usually are made tests for "indicator organisms", bacteria which typically are not pathogens, but which alert that water is susceptible to contamination.
You may click on section
"TEST YOUR WATER" to get a list of acceptable laboratories in the country. A
trustful and skilled laboratory will give you the instructions to get a representative sample.
Depending on how many contaminants you test for, a
water test can cost from few dollars to hundreds of dollars.
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What if I have a severely compromised immune system? |
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. People with severely compromised immune systems, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
