Tap water in Kazakhstan

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 97% of people in Kazakhstan. 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 not safe to drink in Kazakhstan.

Numbeo

56.25/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

In general, tap water is not safe to drink in Kazakhstan. Some locals do, or have filters attached to their taps, but it's best to err on the side of caution and either boil the water or buy bottled water.

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 314$ a year in Kazakhstan, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Kazakhstan

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

Elsewhere in Asia