Tap water in Malaysia

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 97% of people in Malaysia. 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 Malaysia.

Numbeo

55.6/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Moderate”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

Never drink tap water unless you've verified that it's safe. Boiling water is the most efficient method of purifying it. Check bottled-water seals are intact at purchase. Avoid ice in places that look dubious. Avoid fresh juices if they have not been freshly squeezed or you suspect they may have been watered down. Iodine, the best chemical purifier, should not be used by pregnant women or those who suffer thyroid problems.

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 372$ a year in Malaysia, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in Malaysia

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

Elsewhere in Asia