Tap water in Ireland

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 97% of people in Ireland. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

97% of the population has safely managed drinking water, meaning it is free from contamination at the point of use.

US CDC Travelers' Health

Advises travellers that tap water is generally safe to drink in Ireland.

Numbeo

72.8/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “High”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

European Union

As an EU member state, Ireland is bound by the Drinking Water Directive, which sets minimum quality standards and requires regular testing by suppliers.

Lonely Planet

The Irish have traditionally always drunk tap water, but in recent years have introduced filter systems to combat the presence of potentially toxic chemicals called trihalomethanes (THMs)...

The Irish have traditionally always drunk tap water, but in recent years have introduced filter systems to combat the presence of potentially toxic chemicals called trihalomethanes (THMs) in the water supply, which have exceeded EU-sanctioned levels in various parts of the country, including Kerry, Cork, Kilkenny city, Waterford, Wicklow, Meath, Mayo, Roscommon, Donegal and Galway.

Although the potential issues are only associated with long-term exposure to THMs, you should make sure to drink only filtered or bottled water while in Ireland, and never drink from the bathroom tap.

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 1044$ a year in Ireland, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Ireland

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

Elsewhere in Europe