Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Uruguay?

The national utility OSE (Obras Sanitarias del Estado), established in 1952, is the sole water provider serving 330 localities and 2.8 million inhabitants. The Santa Lucía River is the primary source, supplying about two-thirds of the population. Water is treated at the Aguas Corrientes plant, with the Paso Severino Reservoir as key storage for the Montevideo metropolitan area.

Under normal conditions, no significant contaminant concerns. The major vulnerability is drought: during the 2022–2023 La Niña-driven drought, low river flow allowed brackish water to reach treatment plants, causing salinity levels twice the WHO recommended limit. The government declared a national emergency (June–August 2023). The crisis has since resolved with resumed rainfall. Algal blooms from agricultural runoff in the Santa Lucía watershed are a recurring concern.

Montevideo metro area has the best infrastructure but was the epicenter of the 2023 salinity crisis. Maldonado/Punta del Este, formerly under private concessions, is now served by OSE. Rural areas have 100% broad water access but only 84% have house connections versus 97% urban.

Soft to moderate, roughly 50–150 mg/L, typical of surface-water-fed supply systems..

Yes, under normal conditions. Uruguay’s water infrastructure is the best in Latin America by coverage metrics. However, the 2023 crisis significantly shook public confidence, and many residents temporarily switched to bottled water.

• •Under normal conditions, tap water in Montevideo and cities is safe to drink
• •Monitor local OSE advisories during dry seasons (southern hemisphere summer, December–March)
• •In rural or remote areas, bottled water is a safer default

• •Monitor OSE water quality advisories, especially during dry seasons
• •Use bottled water in remote rural areas