Tap water in Bangladesh

Not safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 55% of people in Bangladesh. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

55% of the population has safely managed drinking water, meaning it is free from contamination at the point of use.

Coverage splits by where you are: 45% in urban areas against 61% in rural ones.

US CDC Travelers' Health

Advises travellers that tap water is generally not safe to drink in Bangladesh.

Numbeo

44.07/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

Never drink tap water, and avoid ice. Bottled water is generally safe – check that the seal is intact, and that it is labelled ‘arsenic free’. Avoid fresh juices – especially in smaller...

Never drink tap water, and avoid ice. Bottled water is generally safe – check that the seal is intact, and that it is labelled ‘arsenic free’. Avoid fresh juices – especially in smaller eateries. They may have been watered down. Boiling water for 10 minutes is the most efficient method of purifying it. The best chemical purifier is iodine. It should not be used by pregnant women or those with thyroid problems. Water filters should also filter out viruses. Ensure your filter has a chemical barrier such as iodine and a small pore size, eg less than four microns.

This is a national picture, and it varies. Some cities treat their water to a standard the country as a whole does not reach. Where the water is not safe, boiling, filtering or sealed bottles are the usual options, and ice and raw salad washed in tap water carry the same risk as the water itself.

What bottled water costs you here

Drinking tap water instead of bottled would save one adult about 234$ a year in Bangladesh, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Bangladesh

Water quality is local. These places have their own readings.

Elsewhere in Asia