The Bangkok waterworks supplies treated water, but the pipe network and tanks make it unsafe. Thailand drinks from bottles, from refill machines on every street corner and from jugs of filtered water in restaurants.
The short answer
No, do not drink tap water
Aquaviana’s advice
- Bottled water is available everywhere for a few baht, and you should check that the seal is intact.
- Refill machines with reverse osmosis on streets and in apartment buildings fill your bottle for one baht per litre.
- Ice in restaurants and cafés is factory ice made from treated water, recognisable by its cylindrical shape with a hole.
Why not from the tap
The waterworks of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket treat the water with chlorine and meet WHO standards at the plant. After that come old pipes, rooftop tanks in the tropical heat and frequent construction work on the network. The government officially declares Bangkok's water drinkable, but in practice nobody drinks it. On islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phangan the water comes from wells and tanks and can be salty or contaminated with germs.
What locals do
On almost every street there are machines that dispense water filtered by reverse osmosis for one baht per litre. Households use 20-litre containers or their own filters. Restaurants put jugs of filtered water and ice on the table free of charge. The ice comes from licensed factories, and the cylindrical cubes with a hole are the sure sign.
For travellers
Bottled water costs 10 to 20 baht per litre at 7-Eleven and in supermarkets. If you want to save plastic, take a bottle and fill it at refill stations in hotels, hostels and cafés, which by now exist in all tourist areas. Brushing your teeth with tap water is fine in cities, but on islands it is better to use bottled water. In heat and with a risk of diarrhoea, pay attention to electrolytes, see Drinking in heat.
Frequently asked questions
Are the jugs of water in restaurants safe?
As a rule yes, it is filtered water from containers or treatment systems. If you are sensitive, stick to sealed bottles.
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