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Tap Water Safety in Bhutan

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: April 8, 2021 12:53 pm
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Table of Contents

How do People In Bhutan Rate The Tap Water?

Travellers and residents of Bhutan have rated the water quality and pollution as follows, according to subjective survey data. A score of 100% is considered very high, and a score of 0% is very low. Please be cautious that "moderate to very high" water pollution is bad and the higher the rate of water quality the better.

Can you drink the tap water in Bhutan?

The US Center for Disease Control's travel advisory recommends avoiding tap water and drinking bottled or disinfected water in Bhutan (source). Like all countries though, water accessibility, sanitation, and treatment vary widely from location to location, so we encourage looking for specific city information.

What do people in Bhutan think about the tap water?

  • Never drink tap water
  • Bottled water is generally safe“ check the seal is intact at purchase
  • Avoid ice
  • Avoid fresh juices“ they may have been watered down
  • Boil water, this is the most efficient method of purifying it; let it boil a bit longer at higher altitudes
  • Purify water“ the best chemical purifier is iodine but this should not be used by pregnant women or those with thyroid problems
  • Use water filters“ should also filter out viruses; ensure your filter has a chemical barrier such as iodine and a small pore size, eg less than four microns

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 36% Low
  • Water Pollution 54% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 64% High
  • Water Quality 46% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in , measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources


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