Is it safe to drink the water?

[Shelley862]

We should arrive in Sarria next Saturday - is it safe to drink the tap water in Galicia or should we stick to bottled water? Thanks

 

[Mysticl]

It's safe as anywhere. Spain is a first word country and tap water is fine. If there is a non potable sign that would be a fountain to avoid however most fountains are clearly marked or obviously for human use and those are quite safe. In an albergue or hostel etc the water is safe obviously. I got in the habit if ordering tap water while there instead of paying for a bottle if water.... Never had a problem

 

[Kimberly Helen]

The tap water in Spain is excellent. I've drunk it all over the country, from the largest cities to the tiniest mountaintop villages, and have never had a problem (not even when I first moved here.)

 

[Mark Lee]

Just about all I drank in Spain (water wise) was from the taps or fountains. It's fine.
Don't drink water out of plastic bottles. It's a waste and contributes to pollution.

 

[evanlow]

I actually trust the tap water more than the fountain water. Besides, outside the Camino Frances I don't many public fountains so most of my water are tap water from the bars.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

About as safe as eating raw oysters.

 

[naplesdon]

Or eating pulpo!

 

[Volker_]

Hi there,
And what's about that warning not to drink from the fountains between Burgos and Leon? Is that still valid?
Best wishes,
Volker

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

We should arrive in Sarria next Saturday - is it safe to drink the tap water in Galicia or should we stick to bottled water? Thanks

Hi Shelley, it is safe to drink the tap water. Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[scruffy1]

San Juan Hill Revenge? True its Santiago but the other one, in Cuba! Mineral water from bottles also contains salts, minerals, trace elements, and goodness knows what all, forget it - if its marked potable go for it! Sin aqua potable don't. I have a personal preference for club soda and can drink a gallon at the end of a day, worse than mineral water but it bubbles out all the dust up and flushes all the lomo out - works for me and no gin required!!

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Or eating pulpo!

At least that has been streamed.

 

[C clearly]

And what's about that warning not to drink from the fountains between Burgos and Leon? Is that still valid?

It may never have been valid!

 

[naplesdon]

At least that has been streamed.

I don't know Scott, that's like the "old wive's tale" to devein shrimp. I have been eating the mud suckers for over 60 years and never gotten sick.
BTW, There is nothing tastier than a big, fat raw Apalachicola oyster from the armpit of Florida with horseradish and that world famous sauce from Avery Island.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The only time I do not drink fountain water is 1) if it is marked "non potable" and 2) if it's raining so hard that the creeks are running brown.

Otherwise, I drink it all the way from SJPP to Santiago.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

No doubt, nothing better than Chesapeake oyster but they warn you about consuming raw seafood for a reason. You might eat them over and over again but it only takes one, only takes your gut to have an issue. It's not so much the water in Spain as much as possible contamination at the fonts themselves.

But I'd sooner eat oysters in close to home in Virginia then chance stomach issues thousands of miles away.

I remember a couple years ago in the Costa Brava the issues of water and being warned not to drink from the tap or fonts.

 

[Pabloke]

Locals use to sacrifice chickens and goats when praying to Gods for some drops of potable water.

Be sure you carry your owns.

And some mirrors.

 

[Shelley862]

Thank you all - much appreciated

 

[Bohemiana]

We did the Camino in May of this year and we were told by a Spanish man who has done the Camino 8 times not to drink from the fountains after O'Cebreiro until the end.

 

[Shelley862]

Thank you - I think we'll stick to the domestic tap water in the hostels

 

[craigmiller]

We should arrive in Sarria next Saturday - is it safe to drink the tap water in Galicia or should we stick to bottled water? Thanks

We filled our bottles from a fountain in Galicia and it made us sick for 2 days. We were flat out, in bed - couldn't eat anything. When we recovered we didn't feel like walking very far. Some fountains are labelled "agua potable" or "agua tratada" and are probably safe. Others may say "agua no potable" - take this warning seriously. Most fountains have no indication, however, so be cautious. It is best to fill and refill your water bottles in albergues, cafes, bars, restaurants from taps. Most cafes will cheerfully fill your bottle for you.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Locals use to sacrifice chickens and goats when praying to Gods for some drops of potable water.

Be sure you carry your owns.

And some mirrors.

Oh darn now I have to carry a chicken to? Maybe I could traIn the goat to carry the chicken....

 

[Mysticl]

We filled our bottles from a fountain in Galicia and it made us sick for 2 days. We were flat out, in bed - couldn't eat anything. When we recovered we didn't feel like walking very far. Some fountains are labelled "agua potable" or "agua tratada" and are probably safe. Others may say "agua no potable" - take this warning seriously. Most fountains have no indication, however, so be cautious. It is best to fill and refill your water bottles in albergues, cafes, bars, restaurants from taps. Most cafes will cheerfully fill your bottle for you.

How did you know it was the water? Could it have been something you ate as well ... or maybe even virus/bacterial infection? Unless you were tested it would be hard to definitively say it was the water.

 

[whariwharangi]

Flies landing on food in the kitchen where you buy your meals are more likely to cause problems than water from potable sources.

 

[mvanert]

We should arrive in Sarria next Saturday - is it safe to drink the tap water in Galicia or should we stick to bottled water? Thanks

Probably. Last year I got very ill, three days in a albergue unable to continue, not sure if it was the water or something I ate but I stuck with bottle water and sports drinks for the rest of my camino and had no further problems.

 

[craigmiller]

How did you know it was the water? Could it have been something you ate as well ... or maybe even virus/bacterial infection? Unless you were tested it would be hard to definitively say it was the water.

We didn't get tested, so, of course, we cannot say definitively it was water. However, the day we got sick, we had filled our bottles from an unmarked fountain (a foolish act). I'd say that fountain was the most probable source of our discomfort. We have been more cautious during 2 subsequent Caminos and we've encountered no problems with water.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Probably. Last year I got very ill, three days in a albergue unable to continue, not sure if it was the water or something I ate but I stuck with bottle water and sports drinks for the rest of my camino and had no further problems.

I agree that it is safe to drink the water, but find a bit of irony that you would suspect that water was the source of the problem, and also that bottle water was then a preventive! Both contain the same post hoc fallacy! Without testing, there is no evidence that water caused the problem, only conjecture. It could have come from water, food, dehydration, or disease. Similarly, sticking to bottled water provided no protection against food, dehydration, or disease, which may have been equally likely causes.

Illness is far from rare on the Camino. It is arduous, and quarters are often close. There are sanitation standards in Spain, but enforcement is a bit of an unknown. With pilgrims being transients, and with the incubation time of symptoms quite variable, tracing and testing a source is an awesome task.

My approach: I got sick. I got better. Next time I will continue to practice prudent preventive standards.