Tap water in Jordan

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 98% of people in Jordan. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

98% 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 not safe to drink in Jordan.

Numbeo

46.15/100 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 in Jordan is generally safe to drink, but for a short trip it's better to stick to bottled water. This is readily available but check the seal has not been broken....

Tap water in Jordan is generally safe to drink, but for a short trip it's better to stick to bottled water. This is readily available but check the seal has not been broken. Alternatively, you can boil tap water for 10 minutes, use water purification tablets or a filter.

The tap water in southern Jordan, particularly Wadi Rum, comes from natural springs at Diseh and so is extremely pure. Avoid drinking water from wadis in the wild as pools may have been used as waterholes for livestock. In the Jordan Valley, amoebic dysentery can be a problem.

If you get stuck in the desert without water, remember that you are more likely to be seriously ill (and even die) from dehydration than you are from an upset stomach, however unpleasant it may be. In summary, if water is offered and you need it, worry about its provenance later!

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 431$ a year in Jordan, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Jordan

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

Elsewhere in Asia