Can You Drink the Tap Water in Nepal? (2024)

CAN YOU DRINK THE TAP WATER IN NEPAL?

If you are travelling to Nepal and not sure if it is safe to drink the tap water, you’ve come to the right place! I live in Nepal and here is everything you need to know about drinking water in Nepal.

To the question “Can I drink the tap water in Nepal?”, the short answer is that no, you cannot drink the tap water in Nepal.

The tap water is unsafe for drinking in Nepal. It is not only foreign tourists that should not drink the tap water in Nepal, even Nepali people who were born and raised in Nepal do not drink the tap water.

Most households, hotels and restaurants use water for drinking and cooking from 5 gallon water jars. Some households also have water purification system but generally, people order the water jars for safe drinking water.

Here is all the information you need about tap water in Nepal, drinking water in Kathmandu and on trekking routes.

Can You Drink the Tap Water in Nepal?

No, you cannot drink the tap water in Nepal. The tap water in Nepal is not safe for human consumption. Not even Nepali people drink the tap water, so when visiting Nepal, you should be careful.

Can Locals Drink the Tap Water in Nepal?

No, even locals who were born and raised in Nepal cannot drink the tap water. The tap water in Nepal is not safe for consumption.

Can You Drink the Tap Water in Kathmandu?

No, you cannot drink the tap water in Kathmandu. The tap water in Kathmandu and all other cities in Nepal is unsafe for drinking.

Many of the hotels have big water jars from where you can refill your water bottle, or you can also buy bottled water in shops. Sometimes, hotels charge a small fee (Rs. 10) for refilling your water bottle.

There is no proper system in Nepal for recycling waste, so if you bring a water bottle with you and try to fill it up as often as you can, it is the best option.

Can I Drink the Water in Teahouses (while Trekking)

Yes, you can drink the water in the teahouses but you should always ask them to boil the water first. After they boil the water for you and refill your bottle, you should add a water purification tablet to make sure the water is safe to drink.

You can also buy bottled drinks in the teahouses but waste management for plastic is not well developed in Nepal and so it is better to get water refilled in your water bottle.

The water purification tablet takes about 30 minutes to take effect. So it is good if you have 2 water bottles and one of them is always full of water that is ready to drink.

Can I Drink the Water from Streams?

In many mountainous places in Nepal the water from streams and springs are used for drinking.

You should only drink the water from the streams if you have a water bottle with a filter (Water-to-Go, LifeStraw Water Bottle), then water from springs and streams are generally safe to drink.

Is it Safe to Cook with Tap Water in Nepal?

No, cooking with tap water in Nepal is not safe. The tap water in Nepal is not safe for human consumption, thus you should also not use it for cooking.

Is it Safe to Wash Dishes with Tap Water in Nepal?

Yes, it is safe to wash dishes in tap water in Nepal, however, always make sure that the dish is dry before you use it. If there is not enough time for it to dry, it is good if you can wipe it dry with a cloth or tissue before using.

Can I Wash Fruits and Vegetables with Tap Water in Nepal?

No, you should not use the tap water to wash fruits fruits and vegetables in Nepal. You should use clean drinking water to wash the fruits and vegetables.

A good practice is to soak the vegetables in water and add a little bit of vinegar into it. The vinegar kills off the germs. It takes a little bit of extra time but if your stomach is sensitive, it is better to be careful.

Is it Safe to Have Drinks with Ice in Nepal?

Yes but only in western type restaurants. If you are out in a western type restaurants or bar than it is safe to have drinks with ice. Western type restaurants have better hygiene standards and they use drinking water for ice cubes. So for this reason, drinks with ice in a western type restaurant is safe.

If you are in a local restaurant, it is better to be careful. While no restaurant uses drinking water for cooking, the hygiene standards may not be so good, so when it comes to ice, it is best to be careful and have drinks without ice.

Can I Eat Ice-cream in Nepal?

Yes, it is safe to eat ice-cream in Nepal but only have ice-cream from proper ice-cream sellers.

Sometimes, in small shops in the countryside they might sell locally made ice-cream from buffalo milk but that might be unsafe for foreigners if your stomach is not used to it.

Can I Brush my Teeth with Tap Water in Nepal?

Yes, but only if you don’t swallow the water. It is fine to use the tap water in Nepal to brush your teeth but only as long as you don’t swallow the water.

If it’s your first time in Asia, you can also use drinking water to brush your teeth. A lot of people use drinking water to brush their teeth but if you will spend a lot of time in Nepal or Asia, you can gradually get used to using tap water for brushing teeth (just don’t swallow the water).

Can I Shower with the Water in Nepal?

Yes, you can shower with the water in Nepal. The water is clean for shower but it is not safe for drinking. Make sure not to swallow any water when you shower in Nepal.

Why Can’t you Drink the Tap Water in Nepal?

You shouldn’t drink the tap water in Nepal because it contains bacteria that will make you sick. The quality of tap water in Nepal is not safe for consumption and if you do, you will get diarrhoea.

Drinking Water in Nepal

In cities and towns in Nepal, the most popular way to get drinking water is to order big 5 gallon (19 litres) water jars. Some households also have water filter systems for clean drinking water.

You can also buy 1-2 litres of bottled water in shops in Nepal but the waste management is not well developed in Nepal, so it is better if you have a re-useable water bottle that you can keep refilling.

Drinking Water in Kathmandu

Most of the households get the 5 gallon water jars for drinking water in Kathmandu.

The hotels also have the 5 gallon water jars and it is usually available for guests to refill their water bottles – sometimes for a small fee (Rs. 10/refill).

How Much is Bottled Water in Nepal?

The price of 1 litre water bottle is Rs. 25-35 in Nepal.

If you stay in Nepal long-term, the best option is to get the 5 gallon (19 litres) water jars. The 5 gallon water jars are Rs. 80. The first time you buy the water jar, you will also have to pay a Rs. 300 “deposit” for the jar itself. Then, when you get the water jar for the next time, you only have to pay for the water (Rs. 80) and swap the empty water jar with a new bottle.

Re-useable Water (Filter) Bottles

If you are travelling to Nepal, the best option is to have a water bottle that you can refill. Some bottles also have a water filter that filters out bacteria and makes water safe to drink.

Water Bottles with filter:

• Water-to-Go Water Filter Bottle
• LifeStraw Water Filter Bottle

Re-Useable Water Bottle:

• Nalgene Water Bottle (without water filter)

🔥 Did you know? You can also refill a Nalgene water bottle with hot water! If you go trekking in Nepal, you can get it filled with hot water and put it inside your sleeping bag at night, it will work like a heater!

Treatment for Diarrhoea

Medicines are easily available for diarrhoea in pharmacies in Nepal. It is good if you already pack some medicines (e.g. Imodium) for stomach bug but if you don’t you will be able to get the medicine in Nepal.

Staff in pharmacies usually speak English and they will be able to understand what medicine to give you.

In case you go trekking, you should also pack anti-diarrhoea medicines for the trek. Some villages are very small and you may not be able to find a pharmacy in all cases.

FAQs: Can You Drink the Tap Water in Nepal?

Is the tap water safe if Nepal?

No, the tap water in Nepal is not safe for drinking. Not even Nepali people drink the tap water, so when visiting Nepal, you should be careful.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water in Nepal?

Yes, but only if you don’t swallow the water. It is fine to use the tap water in Nepal to brush your teeth but only as long as you don’t swallow the water.

If it’s your first time in Asia, you can also use drinking water to brush your teeth. A lot of people use drinking water to brush their teeth but if you will spend a lot of time in Nepal or Asia, you can gradually get used to using tap water for brushing teeth (just don’t swallow the water).

Can you drink the tap water in Kathmandu?

No, you cannot drink the tap water in Kathmandu. The tap water in Kathmandu and all other cities in Nepal is unsafe for drinking.

Many of the hotels have big water jars from where you can refill your water bottle, or you can also buy bottled water in shops. Sometimes, hotels charge a small fee (Rs. 10) for refilling your water bottle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the tap water is unsafe for drinking in Nepal. It is not only foreign tourists that should not drink the tap water in Nepal, even Nepali people who were born and raised in Nepal do not drink the tap water.

You shouldn’t drink the tap water in Nepal because it contains bacteria that will make you sick. The quality of tap water in Nepal is not safe for consumption and if you do, you will get diarrhoea.

Most households, hotels and restaurants use water for drinking and cooking from 5 gallon (19 litres) water jars. Some households also have water purification system but generally, people order the water jars for safe drinking water.