Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Macau?

Macau imports roughly 98% of its raw water from Guangdong Province in mainland China via the Xijiang (West River) pipeline. The water is treated at the Macau Water Supply Company (MWSC) facilities on Coloane, using coagulation, sand filtration, ozone treatment, and chlorine disinfection.

Treated water leaving the MWSC plant meets WHO and local standards. However, some older buildings in the Macau Peninsula — particularly pre-1980s low-rises — have galvanized iron or lead-soldered pipes and rooftop storage tanks that can introduce trace metals and sediment into tap water at the point of use.

Newer developments in Cotai and Taipa generally have modern internal plumbing and deliver clean tap water. Older neighborhoods on the Macau Peninsula, especially around the Inner Harbour and Patane districts, may have less reliable building-level water quality due to aged internal pipes.

Moderate, approximately 80–160 mg/L, influenced by the mineral content of Xijiang River source water..

Many Macau residents boil tap water or use countertop filters as a cultural habit, though the treated supply itself is safe. Younger residents in modern apartments increasingly drink directly from the tap.

• •Water in major casinos, resorts, and modern hotels is safe to drink from the tap
• •In older guesthouses on the Macau Peninsula, use bottled water or the provided kettle
• •MWSC publishes real-time water quality data online — check if you have concerns
• •Let taps run for a few seconds before drinking in older buildings

• •Use filtered or bottled water in older buildings with aging internal plumbing
• •Let the tap run briefly before drinking in pre-1980s buildings