Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Male?
Caution is advised with tap water in Male. The Male Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) operates a modern desalination plant that produces safe water, but building-level storage tanks and plumbing can compromise quality at the tap.
Water Source
Male’s municipal water is produced by MWSC’s reverse-osmosis desalination plant, one of the largest in South Asia relative to the city’s size. The Maldives has virtually no freshwater rivers or lakes, so desalination and rainwater harvesting are the primary sources.
Contaminants & Concerns
Desalinated water from the MWSC plant is very pure. However, the densely built-up city relies on rooftop storage tanks in most buildings, which can harbour bacterial growth if poorly maintained. Plumbing in older buildings may introduce contaminants. Resort islands typically have better-maintained systems.
Tips
- •Use bottled water for drinking in Male city as a precaution due to building tank storage
- •On resort islands, the desalinated water is generally well-managed and filtered — ask your resort about their water system
- •Male’s desalinated water is safe for showering and cooking — the main concern is rooftop tank contamination for drinking
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