Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Indonesia?
No, tap water in Indonesia, including Bali, Jakarta, and throughout the archipelago, is not safe to drink. Bottled or properly filtered water is essential everywhere.
Water Source
Municipal and well-water systems exist but are not treated to a standard considered safe for direct drinking anywhere in the country, even in major cities like Jakarta.
Contaminants & Concerns
Bacterial contamination is widespread due to inconsistent treatment, aging infrastructure, and, in Bali specifically, saltwater intrusion into groundwater from over-extraction.
Regional Variations
Not safe anywhere, including Jakarta, Bali (Denpasar, Ubud, Seminyak, Canggu), and all other islands.
Water Hardness
Not centrally published; varies by region and not relevant given universal bottled/filtered use..
Do Locals Drink Tap Water?
No, Indonesian households universally boil water or use bottled/refillable purified water (galon) rather than drinking tap water directly.
Tips for Travelers
- •Bottled water is sold everywhere and very inexpensive
- •Many villas and hotels in Bali provide large refillable purified water dispensers — use these instead of single-use bottles when possible
- •Use bottled water for brushing teeth
Recommended Precautions
- •Drink only bottled or properly filtered water
- •Use bottled water for brushing teeth
- •Avoid ice from informal street vendors
Cities in Indonesia
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
- •WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP)
- •National and municipal water utility public quality reports