Drinking Water

Is it safe to drink the water?

Despite the fact that the authorities have made efforts (leaps & bounds in fact!) ensuring tap water meets World Health Organization standards, very few people drink tap water in Thailand, even the local population. Bottled water is widely used instead. Tap water is now drinkable in most main cities.

Brushing your teeth with tap water is perfectly safe, although those with very sensitive stomachs may occasionally experience problems. In restaurants, you will find the water to be generally safe, the frosty stainless jug they're serving with doubtless filled from a bottle only moments ago. It's so unbelievably cheap here nobody takes the risk You can always buy small bottles if you like but make sure the seal has not been broken. You'll notice they always offer a straw with every drinks can/bottle? This is to prevent the spread of Leptospirosis or "Weil's Disease" spread by rat urine. Incurable and particularly nasty, best playing it safe and using the straw rather than allowing your lips to contact the drink's lid.

Don't worry too much about the ice that is served in cafes etc as they usually have the ice delivered to them from government inspected ice factories. Perfectly safe with the 'tube shaped' ice that comes from these factories, but don't accept cubed or crushed ice. I've seen them drag an ice block across the road before now, throw it directly in the crusher and straight over the fresh fish on sale?! You should also be very careful with street vendors and street food stalls, biggest risk being from the cleanliness of the glasses themselves. You can become very ill indeed if you are not careful

Tags: #Drinking Water