Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Cameroon?

Yaoundé draws water from the Mefou River via the Messa treatment plant, while Douala relies on the Dibamba and Japoma stations, all operated by the national utility CAMWATER. The Far North region around Maroua depends far more on boreholes, seasonal rivers, and rainwater, especially during dry-season shortages.

Cholera and typhoid outbreaks have recurred in Cameroon, particularly in Douala's densely populated, poorly drained neighborhoods where sewage can infiltrate leaking pipes. Bacterial contamination is common in both urban distribution networks during outages and in the untreated rural sources relied upon in the Far North and East regions.

Yaoundé and Douala have the country's most developed water treatment infrastructure, though intermittent supply and low pressure remain frequent problems. The Far North and East regions have minimal treated water access, with many communities depending on rivers, hand-dug wells, or boreholes of inconsistent quality.

Water sourced from the Mefou and Dibamba Rivers is generally soft to moderate, roughly 30–120 mg/L, while groundwater in the drier Far North region tends to run considerably harder..

Sachet and bottled water are widely consumed in Yaoundé and Douala as safer alternatives to direct tap consumption, while rural populations in the north often rely on untreated seasonal water sources out of necessity.

• •Drink only bottled or filtered water throughout Cameroon
• •Avoid ice unless from a reputable hotel or restaurant in Yaoundé or Douala
• •Treat water from rural boreholes and rivers before drinking
• •Carry purification tablets for travel in the Far North or East regions

• •Choose bottled or sealed sachet water from established vendors
• •Avoid direct tap consumption even in Yaoundé and Douala hotels unless filtered