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Infographic Reveals Which Countries It Is Safe To Drink Tap Water

Infographic Reveals Which Countries It Is Safe To Drink Tap Water

Planning a jaunt to Martinique? Here's what you need to know

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Planning a holiday in the near future? Well, it is that sort of time of year isn't it. Have you ever considered whether the water in that country is safe to drink? Perhaps you should.

Of course, when we go on holiday we largely steer clear of the idea of drinking water, eschewing it for whatever local brew is popular. However, there comes a point when you crawl into bed in the wee small hours and need something to quench your thirst in the heat.

Now, in the UK we don't worry about what comes out of our taps, that is a luxury that we have here. However, there are - according to the Centre for Disease Control - there are 187 countries worldwide where you shouldn't quaff the local corporation pop.

Here's where you shouldn't drink the tap water.
Globehunters

That isn't to say that the tap water is dirty, just that our bodies might not be used to it. Unfamiliar tap water can still cause a whole array of maladies, it turns out.

Luckily, holiday specialist Globehunters has compiled all of the results into a handy infographic displaying where it is safe, and where it is not safe to drink the local tap water.

In short, Central Europe, North America, and Australia are all fine. As is - strangely enough - Chile. Scandinavia is fine, alongside Japan and parts of the Middle East.

There is an exhaustive list on the diagram, so you can check whether the tap water in, let's say, New Caledonia, is OK to drink (it is) or whether you'll get ill drinking water in the Democratic Republic of The Congo (you might).

Here's where you can.
Globehunters

It's fair to say that the list of countries that we shouldn't necessarily drink straight out of the taps in significantly longer than the places where it's fine. That's to be expected, though.

On the bright side, most of the places that us folk are likely to head off for a jolly are cool. Spain, Germany, the United States of America, Italy are all above board.

That means that unless you are planning a weekend sojourn to the Federated States of Micronesia - and I hear it is lovely there at this time of year - you will largely still be OK.

Oh, by the way, you might have more of a chance of getting ill from drinking tap water on the flight out to any of these places. Have you ever spotted that flight attendants very rarely drink tap water or tea and coffee on a plane?

A bit of background info about the graphic.
Globehunters

Well, it looks as if there is a very good reason for that. They don't believe that the tanks that store the water are cleaned frequently enough.

Charles Platkin, from the NYC Food Policy Centre, told Insider: "Planes come in, [and the tanks are] not being emptied and cleaned, because there is no time for that. The water tank is being filled on top [after] each usage. Whatever would be on the bottom stays there and sits there."

Yum.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, News, travel