Another thought; don't assume you can drink local tap water just because the locals can. It may be safe for them, but your gut biome is not "tuned" to accept the same water cocktail they can. Always check that bottled water is factory sealed. A "chilled" bottle from a street vendor on a hot day may look inviting, but it may just be a recycled bottle filled from the tap.
No matter where you are drinking springwater comes with serious risks. In the United States, it’s a parasite called giardiasis that will cause prolonged diarrhea. There are other parasites like cryptosporidiosis associated with springwater not just E. coli. Swimming in clear lakes is also a risk in many parts of the world. The water can get into your nose and a free swimming amoeba can then invade your brain and basically eat your brain tissue and it’s 100% fatal. Mosquito borne illnesses are frequently seen in lakes where there might be some freestanding swampy type water where you can contract malaria or West Nile or even African sleeping sickness. It’s a dangerous world out there that we too often don’t pay attention to. Even bottle water may not be safe if you’re buying it off a street vendor because frequently they can fill it with tap water and seal the wax back with a lighter we were warned about that in Greece. Amato always be adventurous in our travel, but only eat in good restaurants and avoid ice and anything but bottled water. And the best medicine to bring with you is Pepto-Bismol. I do practice infectious disease for a living.!!
Travel like a Boy Scout when traveling or eating off the beaten path. Ten years ago, I traveled to the island of Saipan to research a book about my father, who landed there as a US Marine in June 1943. A Category 5 typhoon decided to hit the island and knock all the water out across the island for days. I travel with a bundle of life straws and a complete medical kit to treat GI distress and rehydrate. People around me were running for the restrooms, and weak, I had no issues. When I left 5 days later, I had given away all my life straws from REI and antibiotics, BE PREPARED
I remember reading about this poor teenager, who was flying alone, in the weeks after 9/11, when TSA was the epitome of cruelty and sadism. The high school student was bringing back a jar of pond water that he was going to test in his high school science class. Instead of confiscating it, the TSA agent commanded the boy to drink the jars contents. And not feeling brave enough to contradict the agent, the boy drank from the jar. Of course he became severely ill and had to be hospitalized. I don't know how his situation turned out or whether his parents sued.
We were in Egypt four years ago, taking an early-morning drive to Abu Simbel. The hotel had packed boxed breakfasts for us that included a piece of fruit—an orange, a banana, or an apple. Guess who got sick? Yeah, dumb me ate the apple. If the water is questionable, don't eat unpeeled fruit.
Reminds me of a long ago escorted tour to communist era USSR. We were warned repeatedly not to drink the water. One tour member did, and proved they were right to warn us. Brings up the question, how do you find healthcare in a foreign country where you don't speak the language, and you're feeling lousy and foggy minded? In the case of an organized tour, you can obviously ask the tour guide. Traveling on your own, you have to make your own quick decisions on finding help. Also might consider packing extra undergarments, etc., along with the meds you mention.
It wasn’t a drink, but a spinach salad, at a high class restaurant in Mexico City. I imagine the spinach was washed in tap water, or grown in contaminated water/soil. Or perhaps poor hygiene by the kitchen staff. About 6 hours later, I was sick as a dog, as the saying goes. Mercifully, it only lasted about 12 hours.
Bottled or canned no ice.......brushing my teeth with tap water sent me off, thought I was going to die! Just stick with bottled or canned and no ice.....................
Before everyone told me not to, I filled up my water on top of a glacier in Alaska. Actually, the tour guide suggested I do it. It was everyone on TikTok that shouted at me to stop. Luckily nothing happened and I was not felled by some thousand year old bacteria from the ice.
I drank a Coke Lite from a can in a restaurant in Ensenada Mexico. I guess just the surface water on the lid and can was enough water to affect me. Three hours later I was so sick I couldn’t get out of bed for a week, didn’t eat solid food for 3 weeks and did not eat in another Mexican restaurant for 5 years. Lesson learned.
A long time ago, I took a group of college Spanish students to Mexico. I warned them time and time again about everything that’s already mentioned here. Sure enough, some of them forgot and ate fresh vegetables from a buffet, and they all got sick. One who didn’t had brought an expensive prescription for “Montezuma’s Revenge”, just in case she made a mistake. The sick ones begged her for the pills. She finally gave in and shared, which “saved” the trip.
Another thought; don't assume you can drink local tap water just because the locals can. It may be safe for them, but your gut biome is not "tuned" to accept the same water cocktail they can. Always check that bottled water is factory sealed. A "chilled" bottle from a street vendor on a hot day may look inviting, but it may just be a recycled bottle filled from the tap.
I’ll back this. Have a lot of travel time logged in Asia.
Bottling tap and chilling it is a common practice.
Be careful what you purchase. Even if you see “western” people selling it or using it doesn’t make it ok for you.
Excellent points. I agree -- just because the locals can drink it doesn't mean you can (or should).
No matter where you are drinking springwater comes with serious risks. In the United States, it’s a parasite called giardiasis that will cause prolonged diarrhea. There are other parasites like cryptosporidiosis associated with springwater not just E. coli. Swimming in clear lakes is also a risk in many parts of the world. The water can get into your nose and a free swimming amoeba can then invade your brain and basically eat your brain tissue and it’s 100% fatal. Mosquito borne illnesses are frequently seen in lakes where there might be some freestanding swampy type water where you can contract malaria or West Nile or even African sleeping sickness. It’s a dangerous world out there that we too often don’t pay attention to. Even bottle water may not be safe if you’re buying it off a street vendor because frequently they can fill it with tap water and seal the wax back with a lighter we were warned about that in Greece. Amato always be adventurous in our travel, but only eat in good restaurants and avoid ice and anything but bottled water. And the best medicine to bring with you is Pepto-Bismol. I do practice infectious disease for a living.!!
Oh, great tip about bringing Pepto Bismol.
AND: check that the cap on the bottled water is 'factory' sealed...learned this (possible trick) in Asia, many years ago.
Yes, should have emphasized that one.
Travel like a Boy Scout when traveling or eating off the beaten path. Ten years ago, I traveled to the island of Saipan to research a book about my father, who landed there as a US Marine in June 1943. A Category 5 typhoon decided to hit the island and knock all the water out across the island for days. I travel with a bundle of life straws and a complete medical kit to treat GI distress and rehydrate. People around me were running for the restrooms, and weak, I had no issues. When I left 5 days later, I had given away all my life straws from REI and antibiotics, BE PREPARED
I remember reading about this poor teenager, who was flying alone, in the weeks after 9/11, when TSA was the epitome of cruelty and sadism. The high school student was bringing back a jar of pond water that he was going to test in his high school science class. Instead of confiscating it, the TSA agent commanded the boy to drink the jars contents. And not feeling brave enough to contradict the agent, the boy drank from the jar. Of course he became severely ill and had to be hospitalized. I don't know how his situation turned out or whether his parents sued.
Ugh. That's a terrible story.
We were in Egypt four years ago, taking an early-morning drive to Abu Simbel. The hotel had packed boxed breakfasts for us that included a piece of fruit—an orange, a banana, or an apple. Guess who got sick? Yeah, dumb me ate the apple. If the water is questionable, don't eat unpeeled fruit.
Reminds me of a long ago escorted tour to communist era USSR. We were warned repeatedly not to drink the water. One tour member did, and proved they were right to warn us. Brings up the question, how do you find healthcare in a foreign country where you don't speak the language, and you're feeling lousy and foggy minded? In the case of an organized tour, you can obviously ask the tour guide. Traveling on your own, you have to make your own quick decisions on finding help. Also might consider packing extra undergarments, etc., along with the meds you mention.
It wasn’t a drink, but a spinach salad, at a high class restaurant in Mexico City. I imagine the spinach was washed in tap water, or grown in contaminated water/soil. Or perhaps poor hygiene by the kitchen staff. About 6 hours later, I was sick as a dog, as the saying goes. Mercifully, it only lasted about 12 hours.
Oooh, yes. I've heard other stories about the leafy greens being washed with tapwater.
Bottled or canned no ice.......brushing my teeth with tap water sent me off, thought I was going to die! Just stick with bottled or canned and no ice.....................
It's the first thing I research when I land in a new destination: Is the water safe to drink?
Before everyone told me not to, I filled up my water on top of a glacier in Alaska. Actually, the tour guide suggested I do it. It was everyone on TikTok that shouted at me to stop. Luckily nothing happened and I was not felled by some thousand year old bacteria from the ice.
I drank a Coke Lite from a can in a restaurant in Ensenada Mexico. I guess just the surface water on the lid and can was enough water to affect me. Three hours later I was so sick I couldn’t get out of bed for a week, didn’t eat solid food for 3 weeks and did not eat in another Mexican restaurant for 5 years. Lesson learned.
A long time ago, I took a group of college Spanish students to Mexico. I warned them time and time again about everything that’s already mentioned here. Sure enough, some of them forgot and ate fresh vegetables from a buffet, and they all got sick. One who didn’t had brought an expensive prescription for “Montezuma’s Revenge”, just in case she made a mistake. The sick ones begged her for the pills. She finally gave in and shared, which “saved” the trip.