When you travel, one of the best small comforts is being able to fill your water bottle directly from the tap, rather than buying packaged water. It makes any city feel easy, friendly, and convenient. Switzerland is a great example of this. The country proudly calls itself “Europe’s water reservoir,” reminding visitors that tap water—and even many public fountains—is safe to drink. In fact, Roger Federer has even encouraged travellers to carry a reusable bottle because clean water is available almost everywhere.
But this isn’t the case in every country. In many places, tap water may not meet international standards for safety. That’s where the WHO and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) comes in. It tracks which countries provide “safely managed drinking-water services,” meaning clean water, available when needed, and free from harmful contaminants. Using this data, here are the countries where travellers can safely drink tap water without worry.
How This List Was Made
The list uses WHO/UNICEF data on countries that have the highest coverage (usually above 98–99%) of safe drinking water. This means the water is treated well, always available, and safe to drink. These are national averages, so some rural or old buildings may still vary, but generally, travellers can trust the tap.
Top Countries With Safe Tap Water
1. Australia
Australia has some of the world’s most regulated water systems. Major cities have excellent treatment plants, making tap water safe almost everywhere.
2. Austria
Known for pure Alpine spring water, Austria’s tap water is extremely fresh and clean, especially in Vienna.
3. Bahrain
Despite having little natural water, Bahrain’s strong desalination and treatment systems make its tap water very safe in cities.
4. Belgium
Strict rules and regular testing ensure Belgium’s tap water is clean and reliable.
5. Denmark
Denmark gets most of its water from natural groundwater, which is so clean that it needs very little treatment.
6. Finland
With glacial and lake sources, Finland has some of the cleanest tap water in the world.
7. Germany
Germany has very strict water laws and detailed testing, giving it near-perfect tap water safety.
8. Iceland
Iceland’s water comes from springs and glacial melt. It’s naturally filtered and needs almost no treatment.
9. Netherlands
The Netherlands uses advanced purification systems and protected dune areas to keep tap water safe and clean.
10. New Zealand
Strong laws and good city water systems make tap water very safe in most urban areas. Rural areas may differ.
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