Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Mombasa?
No, tap water in Mombasa is not safe to drink. The Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MOWASCO) distributes water primarily from the Mzima Springs pipeline and Marere and Tiwi boreholes, but chronic shortages, ageing pipes, and inconsistent treatment make the supply unreliable.
Water Source
Mombasa’s water comes mainly from the Mzima Springs pipeline in Tsavo, a 240-kilometre gravity-fed system built in the colonial era, supplemented by boreholes at Marere, Tiwi, and Baricho along the coast. MOWASCO distributes the supply, but coverage is far below demand, with many neighbourhoods receiving water only a few hours per day.
Contaminants & Concerns
Bacterial contamination is common due to intermittent supply causing negative pressure in pipes, which draws in contaminants through cracks and joints. Saltwater intrusion affects coastal boreholes, raising salinity. E. coli and coliform bacteria are regularly detected in samples from the distribution network.
Tips
- •Drink only sealed bottled water — Keringet, Aquamist, and Dasani are widely available brands in Mombasa
- •Use bottled water for brushing teeth, particularly in Old Town and Tudor areas with the oldest infrastructure
- •Beach hotels along Diani and Nyali typically have on-site borehole water with filtration — confirm drinking water safety with your hotel
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