Is tap water safe in Thailand? Water, ice and brushing your teeth on Phi Phi

Is tap water safe to drink in Thailand?

Not for visitors. In big cities such as Bangkok, the water authorities say tap water leaves their treatment plants at drinking-water standard. The problem is what happens afterwards: old pipes, building plumbing and rooftop tanks can contaminate it before it reaches the tap. Almost nobody in Thailand drinks straight from the tap, and Thais themselves buy bottled water or use filtered water dispensers.

UK travel-health advice for countries where sanitation varies is clear: don’t drink tap water unless it has been treated, and choose factory-sealed drinks instead. Germs in contaminated water are a common cause of traveller’s diarrhoea, and a few days of stomach trouble can wipe out a short holiday.

What about tap water on Koh Phi Phi?

On a small island, treat tap water as non-drinkable. Fresh water on Phi Phi Don is limited and is supplied in different ways by different hotels and businesses, so you can’t easily know where the water in your room came from or how it has been stored. Use it for showering and washing, and don’t drink it. Bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere in Tonsai and Loh Dalum, from 7-Eleven to small family shops, and many hotels leave free bottles in your room.

Is ice safe in Thailand for tourists?

Usually, yes. Most ice in restaurants, cafés and bars in Thailand is made in ice factories from treated water and delivered in sealed bags. You can often recognise it: it comes as cylinders with a hole through the middle (tube ice) or as uniform cubes. Crushed ice and large blocks of ice are more likely to be used for chilling bottles and food than for drinks.

That said, quality varies. Studies of ice factories in Thailand have found that not all of them meet hygiene standards, and ice can be contaminated by the way it is stored and handled. A sensible approach:

• Ice in busy, clean restaurants, cafés and bars is generally fine.
• Avoid ice scooped from cooler boxes where bottles and food are also kept.
• If your stomach is already upset, skip ice until you’re better.
• Remember that alcohol doesn’t make contaminated ice safe.

Can I brush my teeth with tap water in Thailand?

Many travellers do so without problems, because you swallow very little. But UK travel-health guidance advises against using untreated tap water to brush your teeth in countries where sanitation varies, so using bottled water is the safer choice, especially if you have a sensitive stomach, are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or are travelling with children. Keep a bottle by the sink as a reminder, and try to keep your mouth closed in the shower.

Is bottled water in Thailand safe?

Yes, as long as the seal is intact. Thai bottled water is produced under food-safety rules, and you will see the same few brands in every shop. Check that the cap clicks when you open it, and don’t buy bottles that look refilled or have been sitting in direct sun for a long time. Large 1.5-litre and 6-litre bottles are cheaper per litre and mean fewer plastic bottles to throw away. Many guesthouses also have large water coolers you can fill your own bottle from.

Refill stations, filters and plastic

Plastic bottles are a real problem on a small island with limited waste disposal. Some cafés, hotels and dive shops on Phi Phi offer filtered drinking-water refills, and some guesthouses have a dispenser in reception. Ask where you are staying. If you travel with your own bottle that filters water, check that it is designed to remove bacteria and parasites, and follow the maker’s instructions. Bringing water to a rolling boil is another dependable way to make it safe.

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