Tap water in Cambodia

Not safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 26% of people in Cambodia. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

26% 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: 57% in urban areas against 17% in rural ones.

US CDC Travelers' Health

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

Numbeo

47.6/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

The number-one rule is be careful of water and ice, although both are usually factory produced, a legacy of the French. If you don’t know for certain that the water is safe, assume the worst. Reputable brands of bottled water or soft drinks are usually fine, but you can’t safely drink tap water. Only use water from containers with a serrated seal. Tea and coffee are generally fine, as they’re made with boiled water.

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 467$ a year in Cambodia, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Cambodia

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

Elsewhere in Asia