Not Safe
Mexico
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Puerto Vallarta?
No, tap water in Puerto Vallarta is not safe to drink. SEAPAL chlorinates the supply, but aging infrastructure throughout the city means the water is not reliably potable at the tap.
Hardness
Moderate
Country
Mexico
Rating
Not Safe
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
SEAPAL (Sistema de los Servicios de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado) supplies Puerto Vallarta from local river sources and wells, treating and chlorinating the water before distribution.
Contaminants & Concerns
Bacterial contamination risk from aging and deteriorating pipes in the distribution network. While chlorinated at the plant, residual disinfection may not be sufficient through older sections of the system.
Tips
- •Hotels and resorts provide purified drinking water — use it for drinking and brushing teeth
- •Buy sealed bottled water from convenience stores for excursions
- •Avoid tap water ice at small street stands — reputable restaurants use purified ice
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