Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Why I Stopped Drinking Tap Water in Latin America (and Everywhere Else)

Is tap water safe to drink? That’s a question many travelers don’t ask until after they get sick. Today, I want to explain why I personally decided to stop drinking tap water (what I jokingly call “sink water”) in Latin America, South America, and quite frankly — ANYWHERE!

Yes, I know the proper term is tap water. But think about it: it’s literally water coming out of your sink. And unless you truly know where that water comes from, how it’s treated, and what it passes through to get to you, you’re basically trusting your health to a system you didn’t build and don’t control.

[Watch the Video Below for Full Insight]

Water is life. Our bodies are made up of roughly 70% water, so the quality of the water you put into your body matters just as much as the food you eat.

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Latin America?

The short answer: it depends heavily on the location, but in many areas, the risks are real.

One of the biggest reasons I stopped drinking tap water in Latin America is contamination. In certain regions, tap water may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites, making it unsafe to drink without proper treatment. During my travels, I personally met multiple people who got sick after drinking tap water — and that was enough for me to take this issue seriously.

When you’re constantly moving between cities, towns, and countries, you can’t assume water quality is consistent or properly monitored everywhere.

Waterborne Diseases Are a Real Risk

Another major reason people question is tap water safe to drink is the risk of waterborne diseases. Drinking untreated tap water can expose you to illnesses such as:

• Cholera
• Typhoid fever
• Hepatitis A
• Other bacterial or parasitic infections

These aren’t minor inconveniences. Some of these conditions can completely derail your travels — or worse, cause long-term health issues.

Lack of Proper Water Treatment

In some regions, tap water may not be adequately chlorinated or disinfected to kill harmful microorganisms. While water chlorination isn’t perfect, it does play a role in reducing disease-causing organisms. Without it, the risk goes up significantly.

Even when chlorine is present, inconsistent treatment practices can make water quality unreliable from one neighborhood to the next.

Aging Infrastructure and Unsafe Pipes

Old infrastructure is a massive issue, not just in Latin America but worldwide. Aging pipes can lead to:

• Leaks
• Corrosion
• Pollutants seeping into the water supply

In older buildings or neighborhoods, pipes may be made of lead or other hazardous materials that leach into the water. This isn’t a hypothetical concern; it’s happened before — even in the U.S.

Chemical and Industrial Contaminants

In some areas, tap water may contain elevated levels of chemical contaminants, including:

• Heavy metals like lead or arsenic
• Agricultural runoff from pesticides and fertilizers
• Industrial pollution near factories or mining operations

These contaminants don’t always affect the taste or smell of water, which makes them especially dangerous — you may not even realize there’s a problem.

Boil Water Advisories and Unreliable Water Quality

Authorities sometimes issue boil water advisories when water quality is compromised. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: boiling doesn’t fix everything. Certain chemical contaminants and heavy metals remain even after boiling.

In regions with inconsistent monitoring and enforcement, water safety can vary dramatically depending on the season, weather, or local infrastructure issues.

Why This Issue Became Personal for Me

My awareness of water quality truly hit home because I’m from Michigan. The Flint water crisis opened my eyes to just how devastating unsafe water can be. Families and children were exposed to lead poisoning, and many of those children will suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives.

If something like that can happen in the U.S., it can happen anywhere.

Final Thoughts: Is Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Sometimes. In some places. But not always—and not automatically.

Just like putting low-quality gas into your car can eventually damage the engine, consistently putting low-quality water into your body can have serious long-term effects. That’s why I personally choose bottled water or properly filtered and purified water, especially when traveling.

Water quality is a serious topic, so you’re wise to wonder, “Is tap water safe to drink?” So yeah, definitely think twice before drinking tap water, whether at home or abroad. Also, be sure to share this post with other travelers (or anyone, for that matter) who may not realize the health risks of drinking tap water.