Caution
Ecuador
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Quito?
No, travelers should use caution with tap water in Quito. EPMAPS treats the water from Andean páramo watersheds to a decent standard, but visitors are advised to stick to bottled water.
Hardness
Soft
Country
Ecuador
Rating
Caution
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
EPMAPS (Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Agua Potable y Saneamiento) supplies Quito from protected páramo (high-altitude Andean grassland) watersheds and mountain reservoirs, treated at multiple plants across the city.
Contaminants & Concerns
Treatment quality is above average for the region, but distribution infrastructure varies in age and condition. Sediment and occasional bacterial presence can occur in older pipe sections.
Tips
- •Bottled water is inexpensive and available everywhere in Quito
- •Some locals drink the tap water, but travelers with unaccustomed stomachs should avoid it
- •If staying long-term, a countertop filter can make tap water drinkable
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