Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Montevideo?
Generally yes, tap water in Montevideo is safe to drink under normal conditions. OSE (Obras Sanitarias del Estado), Uruguay’s national water utility, treats water from the Santa Lucía River to standards that generally meet WHO guidelines.
Water Source
OSE draws Montevideo’s water primarily from the Santa Lucía River via the Aguas Corrientes treatment plant, located about 70 km upstream. During droughts, the utility has had to supplement with brackish water from the Río de la Plata estuary.
Contaminants & Concerns
Under normal conditions, no significant health concerns. However, drought episodes — notably in 2023 — have forced OSE to blend in brackish Río de la Plata water, causing elevated sodium and chloride levels that exceeded WHO taste thresholds. Agricultural runoff (nutrients, pesticides) from the Santa Lucía basin is an ongoing concern.
Tips
- •Under normal conditions, Montevideo’s tap water is safe to drink throughout the city
- •During drought advisories, check OSE announcements for sodium levels — bottled water may be preferable for those on low-sodium diets
- •Tap water in the Ciudad Vieja, Pocitos, and Carrasco neighbourhoods all comes from the same centralized supply
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