Tap water in Iran

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 92% of people in Iran. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

92% 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: 95% in urban areas against 84% in rural ones.

US CDC Travelers' Health

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

Numbeo

56.45/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

Tap water is safe to drink in most of Iran, though many travellers stick to bottled water, which is widely available. Do not drink water from rivers or lakes as this may contain bacteria or viruses that can cause diarrhoea or vomiting.

Safe nationally still means ask locally. Older buildings can carry lead or copper pipework, and a single street can differ from the network feeding it. If you are staying somewhere old, ask your host.

What bottled water costs you here

Drinking tap water instead of bottled would save one adult about 307$ a year in Iran, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Iran

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

Elsewhere in Asia