Is the water safe to drink?
The tap water is generally not safe to drink in India. Bottled water is readily available at tourist sites, hotels, and restaurants. Don’t forget to use bottled water when brushing your teeth as well! Ice is not always made with boiled/ bottled water. Order your beverages without ice or ask your tour leader if the ice is safe in a particular restaurant.
Problems with water quality are usually restricted to lesser-developed countries that do not have adequate chlorination programs. Intake of contaminated water often results in diarrhea but can, also, result in serious disease. Water that has been adequately chlorinated will afford substantial protection against viral and bacterial waterborne diseases. In areas where chlorinated tap water is not available or where hygiene and sanitation are poor, only the following beverages might be safe to drink: • Tea, coffee, or other beverages made with boiled water, • Canned or bottled carbonated beverages, including carbonated, bottled water and soft drinks. • Make sure that the cap on the bottle is securely sealed. Re-using non-sanitized bottles is common in some third world countries, so inspect all containers before drinking the contents. • In addition, make sure that the bottle is opened in your presence, not out of your sight, or your drink could be contaminated. • Beer and wine.
