Greece: To drink Tapwater or not?

Q: Warum schmeckt das Wasser in Griechenland nach Chlor?

Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water . Depending on how much chlorine is used, the water may taste and smell of chlorine. This is particularly common in the hot summer months, as there is an increased need for disinfection due to the heat.

Greece captivates us with its multifaceted culture and architecture as well as its beautiful islands. It is not without reason that it is a hotspot for all vacationers in summer. During the numerous excursions and relaxing days on the beach, however, you should not forget to drink. This raises the question: can you drink Tapwater in Greece? We'll give you the answer!

In this Guidebook , you'll find out...

... whether you can drink Tapwater in Portugal,
... whether chlorine is a problem in Portuguese water,
... where the drinking water in Portugal comes from
... and whether a water filter is necessary for clean Tapwater .

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Updated on: 10.03.2023

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Tapwater Greece: Is it drinkable?

Yes, in principle you can drink Tapwater in Greece. This is because Greece, like all other European countries, is subject to the EU Drinking Water Directive ¹. This ensures that Tapwater can be drunkin a large part of the country without any health risks.

The EU directive includes various parameters for which the Tapwater is regularly checked. These include, among others:

Microbiological parameters such as intestinal enterococci and E. coli
Chemical parameters such as lead and nitrate
Indicator parameters such as taste and odor

Tapwater in Greece is therefore drinkable in most cases. However, as in Germany, the water suppliers only take responsibility for the quality up to the house connection. Dilapidated pipes etc. can still have a significant impact on the quality of drinking water. In addition, there is constant debate as to whether the tested limit values are actually sufficient to ensure good water quality. Some caution is therefore also required with Tapwater in Greece.

Bathing water quality in Greece

Greece is one of the countries with the best bathing water quality after Austria and Malta. 95.8% of the bathing waters surveyed were of excellent quality. Not a single bathing resort was rated as poor! ²

Greece: Tapwater depending on region

The water in Greece has different characteristics depending on the region. Smaller islands and remote locations in particular have to contend with poorer drinking water quality from time to time. This is often due to a lack of water sources and poor treatment processes.

In large cities and on the larger vacation islands, however, it is usually not a problem to drink Tapwater . To be on the safe side, however, you should always ask locally!

This tool on local water quality is just as helpful. There you will find detailed laboratory analyses of the local drinking water based on various parameters for some regions in Greece. This allows you to find out whether you can drink the Tapwater in your vacation destination before you go on vacation.

Tapwater in Greece: Where does it come from?

The majority of drinking water in Greece comes from surface water. Only a small proportion is obtained from groundwater. Here, too, there are regional differences.

On Crete, for example, part of the drinking water comes from meltwater from the mountains. In spring, this reaches natural underground reservoirs where it is stored and later extracted for drinking water. Athens, on the other hand, draws its water primarily from various lakes and rivers as well as from underground water sources that are accessed via boreholes³. The situation is similar in Thessaloniki. Here the drinking water comes from lakes, springs and boreholes⁴.

A large number of municipal water and wastewater companies supply the country with clean drinking water. The largest water suppliers are EYDAP in Athens and EYATH in Thessaloniki. They extract the water from various sources and transport it via aqueducts and water pipes to water treatment plants. There it is purified and then supplied to households via the water supply network.

How does drinking water treatment work in Greece?

EYDAP, the most important water supplier in Athens, purifies drinking water in five stages in water treatment plants designed for this purpose:

Disinfection using chlorine
Flocculation through the addition of aluminum sulfate
Sedimentation of the solids accumulated in the flocculation
Filtration using a sand filter
Re-chlorination (if necessary)

After flocculation, the water is already approx. 80% purified. After filtration using a sand filter, the water is finally drinkable in most cases.⁵

But beware: this type of filtering cannot completely remove all pollutants. Hormones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, microplastics etc., for example, can only be reliably removed from the water using an activated carbon filter.

Water filter for carefree water enjoyment in Greece

Although drinking water in Greece is subject to regulations and controls, it is still possible for undesirable substances to get into the water. In some parts of the country, for example, an increased lime or chlorine content is to be expected. However, chemical compounds, drug residues, heavy metals and hormones also get into the drinking water and are not filtered by the water supplier. High-quality drinking water filters with activated carbon are suitable for removing any harmful substances from the water. These clean the water in three ways and guarantee clean Tapwater.

Our mobile drinking water filter is ideal for vacations. It fits most taps and is easy to install. It is suitable for both vacation homes and campsites where you do not know the condition of the water pipes and want to protect yourself from possible contamination in the drinking water.

Wondering why you should filter Tapwater ? Find out more in our Guidebook on "Why filter water"!

Drinking Tapwater in Greece? In the short term, yes!

You can drinkTapwater in most of the country. In some places, however, the water may be contaminated - without you even noticing. To be on the safe side, we recommend using a water filter. This way you don't have to worry about contaminated Tapwater in Greece and can enjoy your vacation to the fullest!

FAQs on drinking water in Greece

Can you drink Tapwater in Greece?

Yes, in principle you can drink Tapwater in Greece. However, to be on the safe side, you should always ask at your accommodation whether the water can be drunk directly from the tap or not.

Why does the water in Greece taste of chlorine?

Chlorine is used to disinfect drinking water. Depending on how much chlorine is used, the water may taste and smell of chlorine. This is particularly common in the hot summer months, as there is an increased need for disinfection due to the heat.