Tap water debate
 

Hi,
Just been having a discussion with some of the locals about whether it safe to drink the tap water.

The expats who have lived here for years tend to agree that the tap water here (in Benidorm) is up to EU standards and is safe to drink.

I've been using bottled water since I moved here a year ago but am just wondering what the general opinions of members are.

Safe or not?

Steve.

Re: Tap water debate
 

I use bottled water but that is nothing to do with whether the water supply is safe or not it is because I do not like the taste of the tap water in my town.

Rosemary

Re: Tap water debate
 

All municipal tap water in Spain is chlorinated so it is safe to drink.

It may taste horrible, but that is a personal taste thing.

Re: Tap water debate
 

No doubt tap water is safe to drink but if I see the locals buying bottles of water, tend to follow their lead.

Know some who have had a filtration system built into the mains supply under the sink.

Re: Tap water debate
 

Not in Benidorm but our water tastes fantastic.

Re: Tap water debate
 

We have a house in Oliva and the water is safe to drink but terrible. Makes the worst cup of tea imaginable and you need to use bottled water.
We also have an apartment in Oliva Playa and the water there is so much better yet is only a mile away from the house and makes perfectly acceptable tea.
PS Different water companies.

Re: Tap water debate
 

If chlorine taste is the problem, bottle tap water and let it stand - the chlorine taste will disappear.

Re: Tap water debate
 

Not Benidorm but I do find tap water in our village fine. However I did convert it to mains if still coming from deposito no way would I drink it. The old ones were asbestos! Newer ones fibreglass.

Re: Tap water debate
 

Gandia, Valencia. The water is safe to drink but seems to have a lot of calcium in it. Enough to block the supply to taps etc. when left to stand for a couple of months. Much as I am against expensive plastic bottles water, I do not wish to fur up!

Re: Tap water debate
 

Perhaps you would like to read about trihalomethanes. These are caused by over chlorinating drinking water, and are Cancer Group B carcinogens. You might also like to read the European Parliament Petition 0284/2004.

Re: Tap water debate
 

Well just check the Cal in your bottled water, some of it is just as bad as tap water.

Re: Tap water debate
 

There used to be a low cal brand in blue containers, don't know if it's still available, but I recall it was very expensive.

Re: Tap water debate
 

Do you have any links?

Re: Tap water debate
 

There are just too many to list. It's a question of which ones you want to believe. If you read the petition I quoted, you will see that the authorities report sent to the EUP didn't quote the THM level, which turned out to be 50% higher than the WHO limit! At the time I remember that local authority were required to sort it out by 2014, but there has been no further information on the subject. You just have to make your own judgment about your supplier. Why not ask them for an analysis, including the THM level. That is the only way that you can be sure that it is safe to drink!

Re: Tap water debate
 

We live in Oliva and put our tap water through a filter jug for the kettle. It tastes better in tea and the kettle doesn't fur up.