Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Santo Domingo?
No, tap water in Santo Domingo is not safe to drink. CAASD (Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santo Domingo) supplies the capital from the Haina and Ozama river basins, but severe infrastructure problems and intermittent service make the water unreliable.
Water Source
CAASD draws water from the Haina and Ozama rivers and groundwater wells, treating it at ageing plants including Valdesia and Haina. The distribution network loses an estimated 60% of treated water to leaks before reaching consumers.
Contaminants & Concerns
Bacterial contamination is widespread due to massive water loss from cracked pipes, frequent pressure drops that allow sewage intrusion, and cross-connections with drainage systems. Intermittent supply means water sits stagnant in building tanks, promoting bacterial growth.
Tips
- •Drink only sealed bottled water — botellones (5-gallon jugs) are the local standard and cost very little
- •Use bottled water for brushing teeth, especially in the Zona Colonial where plumbing is oldest
- •Confirm that restaurants use purified water and ice before ordering drinks with ice outside tourist areas
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