Outside the Developed World, Where is it Safe to Drink Tap Water?

[Frodo]

Where in the developing world do you think it is safe to drink water straight from the tap? 

[Santander]

Nowhere, really. I was told Panamanian tap water was okay to drink, but never bothered taking the risk.

[The Simpsons Cinematic Universe]

I am not really sure about here. People drink tap water (I do everyday), but it is boiled first and drunk hot. I'm not sure if drinking it cold is safe.

But I don't really enjoy drinking cold water anymore. Hot water is a lot more satisfying once you get used to it.

[brucejoel99]

[urutzizu]

That Map is rather playing it safe I think. I drunk it in Taiwan and IIRC in Turkey as well, and never had an Issue. Obviously don't do it in somewhere like India or something, but otherwise asking the locals is usually best. Localities differ in Water sourcing, If it comes from storage lakes is usually not as good as ground water directly.

[dead0man]

Like with most quality of life issues, strong liberal democracies with low levels of corruption are going to do better than countries that lack those things.  There are always exceptions.

[Nutmeg]

I always did when I lived in Argentina and Colombia, as well as when I visited Uruguay.

[Santander]

That Map is rather playing it safe I think. I drunk it in Taiwan and IIRC in Turkey as well, and never had an Issue. Obviously don't do it in somewhere like India or something, but otherwise asking the locals is usually best. Localities differ in Water sourcing, If it comes from storage lakes is usually not as good as ground water directly.

I lived in Taiwan and drank the water everyday for a year. Although I usually boiled the water like a lot of Asians.

[Meclazine for Israel]

Having worked extensively in South America, Asia and Africa, you really need to go to the location and follow the advice given of the locals.

You cannot just produce a blue and red map of yes and no, and think you have a proper perspective of the situation in each country.

It's vastly different to what is presented here.

[Frodo]

Apparently it is now safe to drink water straight from the tap in a few places in India, at least in Mumbai:

https://www.canyoudrinktapwaterin.com/mumbai-tap-water/

[John Dule]

The "can't" map should include Michigan, northern California, and much of the South.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

That Map is rather playing it safe I think. I drunk it in Taiwan and IIRC in Turkey as well, and never had an Issue. Obviously don't do it in somewhere like India or something, but otherwise asking the locals is usually best. Localities differ in Water sourcing, If it comes from storage lakes is usually not as good as ground water directly.

In Taiwan's case there isn't a risk of disease, but iirc there is a pretty high risk of pollutants being in the water so most locals opt for bottled.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

I have been in Moscow and the water was perfectly safe.

[Santander]

I have been in Moscow and the water was perfectly safe.

The sheets at the Ritz, on the other hand...

[Meclazine for Israel]

The definition of the Developed World is where you find "healthy drinking water", proper health care, social security etc..

[vitoNova]

Germany should not be included on that map. 

Literally no German drinks their own tap water.

That's why they all drink that fizzy stuff. 

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Even still, there can be difference between the countries on the no list.  For example, I went to Argentina and Brazil last year, and, in Buenos Aires, it was kind of like "bottled water is probably better, but, really, you should be fine drinking the water".  In Brazil, it was "don't drink the tap water".

[Alcibiades]

I have been in Moscow and the water was perfectly safe.

When I was in Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg) I was told not to drink tap water by the local guide, which I was slightly surprised at. Anyway, I didn’t take any chances on my trip and drank only bottled water.

[Alcibiades]

Germany should not be included on that map. 

Literally no German drinks their own tap water.

That's why they all drink that fizzy stuff. 

Well it’s perfectly safe, it’s just that Germans have a cultural love of bottled water.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

I have been in Moscow and the water was perfectly safe.

When I was in Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg) I was told not to drink tap water by the local guide, which I was slightly surprised at. Anyway, I didn’t take any chances on my trip and drank only bottled water.

Well I would say that your guide was wrong, but maybe it is highly dependant on the exact time and place?

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

The "can't" map should include Michigan, northern California, and much of the South.

This may confirm rather than allay your suspicions, but I'm drinkin' tapwater e'er'day.