Ist das Leitungswasser in der Algarve trinkbar?

Águas do Algarve is the authority responsible for the quality of drinking water in the Algarve. According to its own information, this is of excellent quality . This means that you can drink Tapwater in the Algarve, at least some of the time. However, as in the rest of the country, there can always be contamination.

Wie ist die Badewasserqualität in Portugal?

Portugal performs relatively well in a European comparison , with 88.5% of bathing waters rated as excellent . Only 0.3% were rated as poor. This puts the vacation destination ahead of its neighbor Spain.

Portugal: Drink Tapwater ?

Q: Wie ist die Wasserqualität in Lissabon?

The aim of EPAL, Lisbon's main water supplier , is to ensure high water quality throughout the entire supply network. The water there is therefore subject to strict controls. Around 99.9% of the water complies with the legal guidelines. However, the fact is that public water treatment cannot filter all pollutants out of the water, which is why there is always a certain risk;

Portugal is an attractive vacation destination with nature and culture just as diverse as its big Iberian brother Spain. Just like Spain, Portugal is often discredited for having poor quality drinking water. However, these are largely outdated rumors. But read for yourself!

In this Guidebook you will learn...

... 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: 06.03.2023

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Can you drink Tapwater in Portugal?

In principle, Tapwater in Portugal is safe to drink. According to ERSAR, 98.95% of the drinking water is of high quality and suitable for human consumption ¹. This is largely due to the fact that Portugal, as an EU member state, must comply with the European Union's Drinking Water Directive ².

But this was not always the case. The supply and quality of Portuguese tap water has only improved since the 1990s. In 1993, just 50% of the water was drinkable!

As in other countries, there are regional differences in drinking water in Portugal. A practical online tool makes it easier for consumers to check the water quality locally. This is also useful for you as a tourist - you can find out about the quality of the tap water in your vacation destination before you start your vacation.

Note:

Even if the Tapwater in Portugal is drinkable according to the authorities, there are some concerns:

The values set out in the Drinking Water Directive are too high in some cases.
The waterworks are far from being able to filter all pollutants out of the water.
Outdated pipes made of lead or copper can release heavy metals into the water.
Time and again, at least occasionally, pollutants are detected in the Tapwater in Portugal.

You can find out more in the Guidebook "Why filter water".

ERSAR report

The national authority ERSAR is responsible for ensuring the quality of water and wastewater services in Portugal. It ensures that drinking water regulations are complied with.

The annual water quality report 2021 shows In the majority of the country, the drinking water guidelines are complied with more than 99% 3. Only in a few regions are several limit values exceeded - here the drinking water complies with the legal framework 95-99% of the time.

The values that are most frequently exceeded include, among others:

Chlorine
Mecoprop(crop protection agent)
Trihalomethanes (methane compounds)

Chlorine in drinking water in Portugal

Warm countries like Portugal need chlorine to purify the water. It is therefore not surprising that this is one of the limits that are frequently exceeded.

Such limit violations occur particularly in the hot summer months. This is because the high temperatures are an absolute paradise for germs and bacteria in drinking water. The chlorine helps to kill them off and prevent them from multiplying.

Can you drink chlorinated water?

Can you drink chlorinated water? In principle, you can drink Tapwater mixed with chlorine. However, by-products of chlorine and chlorine compounds are associated with numerous harmful effects on the body - although research in this area is not always clear.

To be on the safe side, you should therefore avoid long-term consumption of water with a high chlorine content. This applies in particular to pregnant women and small children.

Drinking water Portugal: Where does it come from?

Portugal obtains its drinking water mainly from surface water and partly from groundwater sources. In 2020, 69.41% was obtained from surface water and 30.59% from groundwater.

Where exactly the water comes from depends on the region in question. In the Portuguese capital Lisbon, for example, the water supplier EPAL obtains its drinking water primarily from the following sources ⁴:

River Zêzere (surface water)
River Tagus (surface water)
Wells in Alenquer and Ota (groundwater)

Tapwater Portugal: Do we need water filters?

In principle, you can drink Tapwater in Portugal in most regions, at least for a short period of time. However, the water there is exposed to the same risks as drinking water here in Germany. On the one hand, limit values are repeatedly exceeded, at least occasionally. Secondly, outdated pipelines can lead to impurities in the water. High-quality drinking water filters protect against these dangers.

Water filters are also ideal for reducing the chlorine content in Tapwater . Activated carbon block filters, ion exchangers and the reverse osmosis process are all suitable for filtering chlorine out of water. At Alb Filter, our range includes the two activated carbon block filters Active and Active+.

Conclusion on Tapwater in Portugal

Overall, the quality of drinking water in Portugal is relatively good - however, contamination can occur at any time. The biggest "problem" you will encounter in Portugal is the high chlorine content in the water. But with a water filter, you can eliminate this problem in no time at all and nothing will stand in the way of your vacation in Portugal. Até logo - see you soon!

FAQs about Tapwater in Portugal

Here you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about drinking water in Portugal.

What is the water quality like in Lisbon?

The aim of EPAL, Lisbon's main water supplier, is to ensure high water quality throughout the entire supply network. The water there is therefore subject to strict controls. Around 99.9% of the water complies with the legal guidelines⁵. However, the fact is that public water treatment cannot filter all pollutants out of the water, which is why there is always a certain risk.

Is Tapwater drinkable in the Algarve?

Águas do Algarve is the authority responsible for the quality of drinking water in the Algarve. According to its own information, this is of excellent quality ⁶. This means that you can drink Tapwater in the Algarve, at least some of the time. However, as in the rest of the country, there can always be contamination.

What is the bathing water quality like in Portugal?

Portugal performs relatively well in a European comparison, with 88.5% of bathing waters classified as excellent ⁷. Only 0.3% were rated as poor. This puts the vacation destination ahead of its neighbor Spain.