Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Iran?

Iran draws drinking water from a combination of dams (including the large Karun, Karkheh, and Latyan dams), deep wells tapping into alluvial and karst aquifers, and qanat systems — ancient underground aqueducts still used in some areas. Tehran's supply comes primarily from the Karaj, Lar, and Latyan dams.

Chlorination is standard in cities but may be inconsistent in smaller towns. Aging pipes, some dating to pre-revolution infrastructure, can introduce rust, sediment, and bacterial contamination. Elevated arsenic and fluoride levels have been documented in groundwater from certain regions, particularly in Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and parts of Khorasan.

Tehran and Isfahan have the most modern treatment facilities, though pipe quality varies by neighborhood. Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad have generally adequate treatment but older distribution systems. Rural and desert towns relying on well water or qanats carry higher risk and should be treated as non-potable without local confirmation.

Moderate to very hard, typically 200–450 mg/L, due to extensive limestone and gypsum formations across the Iranian Plateau..

Urban Iranians commonly use water cooler jugs (dispensers with filtered water) or bottled water for drinking. Tap water is widely used for cooking and washing but less commonly consumed directly.

• •Stick to bottled water, which is inexpensive and sold everywhere
• •If drinking tap water, let it run for 20–30 seconds and consider a portable filter
• •Avoid ice in drinks outside major hotels and restaurants
• •In rural areas, do not assume well or qanat water is treated

• •Use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth
• •Avoid ice from unverified sources
• •In rural areas, treat all water from wells and qanats as non-potable unless confirmed otherwise