Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Kathmandu?
No, tap water in Kathmandu is not safe to drink. Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) manages the city’s water supply, but chronic shortages, contaminated sources, and a deteriorated pipe network make the water unsafe.
Water Source
Kathmandu draws from the Melamchi River (via the newly operational Melamchi Water Supply Project), the Bagmati River, Shivapuri springs, and deep borewells in the Kathmandu Valley. The Melamchi tunnel, completed in 2021, aims to address chronic shortages but full distribution is still being rolled out.
Contaminants & Concerns
The Bagmati River is heavily polluted with sewage and industrial waste. Even with the cleaner Melamchi source, the distribution network is severely deteriorated — pipes are old, leaky, and contaminated during the frequent supply interruptions. Bacterial contamination, arsenic in some groundwater zones, and high iron levels are documented concerns.
Tips
- •Always use bottled water, boil tap water, or use a certified purifier — never drink tap water directly
- •Many guesthouses in Thamel offer filtered water refills — carry a reusable bottle to reduce plastic waste
- •UV-purifier bottles (such as SteriPEN) are popular among trekkers and work well for Kathmandu’s biologically contaminated water
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality
- •CDC Travelers' Health destination pages
- •The municipal water utility's published quality data