Aqua para beber- drinking water

[senora1]

When we walked in 2012 I used all the fountains found throughout the Camino. Usually I assumed it was good for drinking, filling up water bottles. Is this still the case? Does anyone have any reason to do otherwise? Thanks, just thinking ahead…

 

[trecile]

If it say "agua potable" it's fine to drink.
If it's labeled "agua no potable" stay away.

 

[peregrino_tom]

If it say "agua potable" it's fine to drink.
If it's labeled "agua no potable" stay away.

That's not quite the whole story though. On Galician caminos in particular I noticed that the authorities were covering their backs by saying the water has not been tested for drinking along the lines of 'agua/auga no probada para beber'. At which point you have to weigh up how thirsty you are, where the next nearest water source is etc.
I even saw this on a notice above the main tap in the kitchen of the modern Xunqueira albergue on the VDLP.
Caveat - I haven't been in Spain since 2018 so it's possible this approach has been updated/replaced by now.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Have always drunk from potable fuentes without any trouble.
While helping a Granny to fill up two 20l jerrycans at the Boadilla fuente (the one with the big wheel you turn to pump water) a Chilean pilgrim asked if there was no running water in her house and was told that there was, but you wouldn't want to drink it!

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Have always drunk from potable fuentes without any trouble.
While helping a Granny to fill up two 20l jerrycans at the Boadilla fuente (the one with the big wheel you turn to pump water) a Chilean pilgrim asked if there was no running water in her house and was told that there was, but you wouldn't want to drink it!

Where my parents live in the Southern Peloponnese everyone collects drinking water from public taps. The water in the outdoor taps is clean mountain spring water. The stuff in the household taps is not very nice to drink.

 

[Anniesantiago]

If it's raining so hard that the streams are running brown, I buy bottled water.
Otherwise, I use the fountains along the way and I've never had a problem.

Joe once drank from a fountain labeled "non-potable."
He caught the mistake quickly, we stopped at the next bar, and he drank a couple of shots of whiskey.
No problemo! lol!

 

[Vince Rollason]

When we walked in 2012 I used all the fountains found throughout the Camino. Usually I assumed it was good for drinking, filling up water bottles. Is this still the case? Does anyone have any reason to do otherwise? Thanks, just thinking ahead…

Hi
Agua potable is drinking water. Agua non potable is not for drinking. That is all you need to look out for. Buen Camino
Vince

 

[wynrich]

If it say "agua potable" it's fine to drink.
If it's labeled "agua no potable" stay away.

What about the ones that aren't labeled either way?

 

[trecile]

What about the ones that aren't labeled either way?

I would err on the side of caution and assume that it's not drinkable

 

[Tincatinker]

What about the ones that aren't labeled either way?

Unless you are in a hurry just sit and wait. If one of the locals turns up and start filling their containers you have your answer. Near Cartama Estacion, north of Malaga there is an excellent fuente, deep ground water, cool and crisp. Someone unscrews and removes the Agua Potable sign whenever the authorities put one up. Word in the Bar la Bodega has it that they don't want the @$$@% Malagueños drinking their water...

 

[TrvlDad1]

I carry a small bottle of halazone tablets in case of serious doubt. But if no sign (potable or non-potable), and it’s clear, I just drink it. Four Caminos and no problem so far.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Even with the good water, I use a LifeStraw to ensure drinkability.

 

[WGroleau]

What about the ones that aren't labeled either way?

If it is a public fountain (but not the decorative type, the ones that look like they are drinkable), they're good water. But if in doubt, wait nd see if a local comes to use it (or ask one thay walks by).

Because I frequently walk in places where these don't exist, I carry a filter. There are many different brands of such; mine is from https://thegrayl.com which even filters out viruses. On a twelve-kilometer walk from Los Arcos to Arróniz, I refilled it three times from ditches with no ill effect. (And the next day, I learned that the guy who said there was no bus had been wrong!)