Not Safe
China
·
Last reviewed:
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Shanghai?
No, tap water in Shanghai is not safe to drink. The city treats water from the Yangtze River and Huangpu River at modern plants, but aging distribution pipes introduce contamination before it reaches your tap. All locals boil their water before drinking.
Hardness
Moderate (120–180 mg/L calcium carbonate typical for Shanghai municipal supply)
Country
China
Rating
Not Safe
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard
Water Source
Yangtze River via Qingcaosha Reservoir and Huangpu River, treated at modern municipal water treatment plants
Contaminants & Concerns
Residual chlorine, sediment from aging pipes, potential heavy metals leaching from old distribution infrastructure, microbial contamination from pipe breaks
Tips
- •Always boil tap water or use bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth
- •Hotel rooms provide electric kettles and complimentary bottled water—use them
- •Carry a reusable bottle and refill from filtered or boiled sources to reduce plastic waste
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