Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Israel?

Mekorot, the government-owned national water company, operates the National Water Carrier and five major RO desalination plants along the Mediterranean coast. The remainder comes from groundwater aquifers and the Sea of Galilee.

Chlorine is used for disinfection with a noticeable taste. Mineral deficiency from desalinated water is discussed — calcium is added back but not magnesium. Fluoride was removed from water in 2014.

Coastal cities (Tel Aviv, Haifa) receive more desalinated water, resulting in softer water. Jerusalem relies more on harder groundwater from mountain aquifers. In the Dead Sea region, hotels provide dedicated drinking water taps due to high mineral content.

Generally hard due to limestone geology, but varies by source blend. Coastal cities with more desalinated water tend softer. Jerusalem is harder from mountain aquifer groundwater..

Yes, many Israelis drink tap water daily. The Ministry of Health officially recommends it. Restaurants must serve free chilled water by law. Home filtration is common mainly for taste.

• •Tap water is safe everywhere in Israel — restaurants are required by law to serve free chilled drinking water
• •If chlorine taste is noticeable, let water sit in a jug or chill it
• •In the Dead Sea area, use hotel-provided drinking water taps as local water has extreme mineral content

• •In the Dead Sea region, use hotel-provided drinking water due to extreme mineral content
• •In pre-1990s buildings, let taps run briefly to flush aging internal plumbing