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Is Bogota Tap Water Safe To Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:43 am, May 23, 2022
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Can You Drink Tap Water in Bogota?

Yes, tap water is drinkable.

Tap Safe includes data from many publicly available sources, including the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Center for Disease Control), and user submitted databases, but unfortunately there's not enough data about Bogota.

To see user submitted ratings of the water quality for Colombia, see the "User Submitted Ratings" box on this page.

Bogota, Colombia tap water is safe to drink. A common misunderstanding that drinking the tap water in Colombia will make you sick. According to some of the travelers who visit Bogota, they drink tap water in Bogota without a problem. The government said that the overall quality of the water bodies that supply the capital is OK for consumption. And the city’s aqueduct claims that 100% of the water supply goes through rigorous treatment.

Bogota

Basically, the water is excellent before it goes into the water pipes. However, many buildings in Bogota are old and have old, dirty, corroded water tanks and pipes which can contaminate the water.

Bottled water in Bogota is not overtly ordinary as most people are utilizing tap water, and it is furthermore a little pricey. It does not tend to be immaculately presented in supermarkets and corner stores. While on the coast of Colombia or in the small villages in the highlands, big five-liter bags of purified water are available everywhere.

Source of Water of Bogota, Colombia

The primary source of tap water in Bogota is from surface water. Water supply in the Bogota metro area involves a system of watersheds that collect, store, and deliver water to the Bogota River Basin. Watersheds upstream include Tibitoc, Chingaza, and Tunjuelo.

Chingaza, which is Bogotá’s leading source for drinking water, collects its water from different watershed, referring to the inhabitants of the eastern Colombian plains. Waters from the eastern catchment are transported to Chingaza before reaching the Rio Bogotá as wastewater after passing through the Bogotá water system. Within these other water basins, there are approximately nine storage reservoirs that supply water by way of the tunnel, aqueduct, or tributary to the central water system of Bogotá. Primary storage reservoirs include Chuza, Sisga, Tominé, and Neusa.

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FAQs about Bogota Water

Is it safe to drink the water in Bogota?
It's a common misconception that drinking tap water in Colombia will give make you sick. In actuality, the tap water in Bogota is perfectly safe to drink.
Why is the Bogota River so polluted?
Due to the population density in the metropolitan area and the lack of water treatment up to date, the Bogota river currently suffers significant pollution due to the waste water received from its tributaries Salitre, Fucha and Tunjuelo, which turns the Bogota into a dead river in certain places along its length.
Where does Bogota's water come from?
Most of the water that supplies Bogota comes from water sources located above the city in Chingaza National Park. In this area, the high Andean forests and paramos protect the tributaries that feed the main supply system in the city and ensure that water that flows through Bogota's pipes.
Is tap water safe in Bogota?
Re: Can we drink the tap water in Bogota? Yes,you can drink tap water in Bogota;slight hint of chloro,not the tastiest.
Is Bogota Tap Water Safe To Drink? Tap water & safety quality

The estimated price of bottled water

$0.82 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Bogota tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 22% Low
  • Water Pollution 46% Moderate
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 78% High
  • Water Quality 54% Moderate

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Bogota, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

Current Weather in Bogota

BOGOTA WEATHER

Some of the Convenience Stores in Bogota

OXXO Cedro Convenience Store
OXXO
  • Star Mart
  • Tienda
  • Supertienda ANGELU'S
  • La Barra Montuna
  • OXXO Cedro
  • SURTICEDRITOS
  • Rocher
  • NAPOLITANA EXPRESS
  • Medellin
  • FRUVER DE LA CALIDAD
  • El Vecino
  • DO-DO
  • Donde siempre
  • Merca Plaza
  • MINI MARKET

Estimated Price of Bottled Water

VolumeCOLUSDEURGBP
1.5-liter2,893.96$0.85€0.77£0.66
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