Tap water

[pjm007]

When travelling abroad, they say not to drink the tap water. So here a three questions :

1. What effect does it have ?

2. Are there any countries where the tap water is safe to drink ?

3. If you emigrated to Spain, could you start drinking the tap water with the hope that you're body would eventually become immune to it ?

Incidently, I live in England.

[luckystrike]

I was in Denmark a few years ago when I asked for water in a restaurant.  When it arrived, I asked if it was tap water, and they told me it was.

When I then asked for bottled water instead, the girl told me that it was perfectly safe to drink, and when Danish people travel to the UK, they are advised not to drink tap water.

Incidentally, I drank the water as it was, and it was fine!

[5029]

The residents of other european countries drink their own tap water and it doesnt do them any harm as they are used to it.  But it can cause stomach upsets for UK residents on holidays

[netibiza]

The tap water is Spain is probably cleaner and with less additives than Britain - perfectly safe for tourists to drink!

[Bangkok]

Tap water in some developing countries (and even developed, such as Hong Kong) could cause serious illness.  Trust me, amebic dysentery is not a good thing.  Take local advice and take extra caution

[KebabMeister]

It's safe to drink in the Netherlands and Germany (latter where I live and it's much cleaner than the UK).  Not too sure on other places, perhaps travel agents would have that info?

[stevie21]

I've always assumed that France's wasn't OK to drink but haven't been there in ages. I'm just back from Cyprus where it is OK.
Their Burger Kings and McDonalds are rubbish though ;-)

[pjm007]

stevie21, lol !

[Litchick]

I've had the tap water in Croatia, Italy and France and was fine......

[pjm007]

My wife and I are taking our two youngsters to Menorca this summer, would we all be ok if we drank the water there ?

[PhilD]

I remember they used to tell you that you shouldn't drink the water on islands as they tended not to have natural streams or rivers. I think the water treatment has probably improved since then. However for what they charge for bottled water (we have just come back from Majorca and 1.5 litres costs about 65 cents in the supermarkets) it is probably safer not to drink the tap-water which contains minerals that can affect the taste (is that why "you can't get a decent cup of tea abroad"?).

Message to stevie21:- What are you doing eating BurgerKing and MacD in Cyprus anyway!!!!