Tapwater Spain: To drink or not to drink?

Many holidaymakers don't drink Tapwater in Spain because there is a rumor that the local water is undrinkable. But is this really true? We took a closer look and got to the bottom of this rumor!

In this Guidebook you will find out ...

... whether you can drink Tapwater in Spain,
... how the water quality has developed in recent years,
... what regional differences in quality there are,
... where the water in Spain comes from
... and how you can enjoy clean Spanish water.

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Updated on: 03.03.2025

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Can you drink Tapwater in Spain?

According to the Spanish Ministry of Health are 98.5% of the tap water in Spain are generally suitable for human consumption. 0.5% are classified as non-potable and 1% have not been classified. ¹ As long as there is no official warning, Tapwater can be drunk in Spain for the most part.

However, you need to be careful with public fountains. You should only drink the water here if they are Clearly signposted as a drinking water fountain are!

But be careful!

The Tapwater in Spain may be drinkable in principle, but as with drinking water in Germany, it is not always completely safe, because:

Water treatment in Spain cannot filter certain substances out of the water, or not completely.
Residues of pesticides, hormones, pharmaceuticals, microplastics etc. can only be reliably removed by an activated carbon filter.
The Spanish drinking water regulations do not cover all pollutants, which is why some of them enter the Tapwater unnoticed.
Old water pipes can release heavy metals such as copper or lead into the water.

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

Drinking Tapwater in Spain: Water quality over the years

Spain joined the EU in 1986. As a result, the country received numerous subsidies to improve its water infrastructure. Since then, water quality has improved considerably.

At that time, the quality of drinking water was still severely lacking in most of the country and there were no or few rules or regulations in this regard. Exceptions were and are individual cities, such as Madrid, which have had good Tapwater for a long time.

As a member of the EU, Spain has to comply with its drinking water supply guidelines. ² In order to guarantee this, Spanish water is treated with chlorine, just like drinking water in Italy and many other countries.

Good to know: In summer, the chlorine content is often increased, as the high temperatures increase the risk of germs and bacteria in the water. This results in an unfamiliar taste, but the chlorine in the water itself is not necessarily dangerous.

However, elevated nitrate levels in drinking water in Spain are quite problematic. The European Commission recently sued Spain for inadequate implementation of the Nitrates Directive in selected regions. ³

What about the quality of bathing waters?

The bathing water quality in Spain is just as interesting for holidaymakers. According to the European Environment Agency, 88.5% of bathing waters are of excellent quality. Only 0.8% were rated as poor. ⁴ Spain was even the country with the most Blue Flags in 2021, with a total of 713 awarded locations - a quality mark for high water quality. ⁵

Drinking water from the tap in Spain? Depending on the region!

The quality of tap water varies greatly in Spain. In most regions, however, you can drink the water, at least for a short time. You only have to put up with the sometimes strong taste and smell of chlorine. In some places, however, the consumption of tap water is expressly advised against - for example in some parts of Mallorca.

The Spanish Ministry of Health provides a platform where you can find detailed information about Tapwater locally. ⁶ There you will find information on water sources, water supply, water quality and much more. Make sure you know whether you can drink the water at your destination or not before you go on vacation.

Drinking water quality in Mallorca - Is Tapwater safe to drink?

Mallorca, the popular Mediterranean island, attracts millions of tourists every year - but what about the quality of the drinking water? In principle, Tapwater in Mallorca is classified as drinkable according to EU standards, but there are regional differences. In many areas, especially in tourist hotspots such as Palma or Alcúdia, holidaymakers complain about a strong chlorine or lime taste.

This is a result of the intensive chlorination to ward off germs and the calcareous nature of the island's soil. In some rural areas or older buildings with outdated pipelines, there are even explicit warnings against drinking, as pollutants such as nitrates or heavy metals can get into the water. The Spanish Ministry of Health offers a platform on which the water quality can be checked locally - it's worth taking a look before you travel.

If you want to be on the safe side, use a water filter, for example with activated carbon, to remove chlorine, limescale and potential impurities.

Drinking water in Andalusia - How good is the quality of the tap water?

Andalusia, the sun-drenched region in the south of Spain, is known for its breathtaking landscapes and cities such as Seville, Málaga and Granada - but how safe is the Tapwater? In most urban areas of Andalusia, the water is considered drinkable and complies withEU directives. Nevertheless, the quality varies greatly between regions.

Near the coast, for example on the Costa del Sol, the water can have an unpleasant taste due to high mineral content (e.g. calcium) and the addition of chlorine. In more rural areas such as the province of Almería, on the other hand, people often struggle with nitrate pollution from agricultural activities, which occasionally exceeds the limit values. Particularly in the hot summer months, the water is chlorinated more to prevent bacterial growth, which can restrict drinking pleasure.

Travelers should check the local water quality, for example via official reports from the Ministry of Health. A portable water filter offers a practical solution to reduce pollutants and the taste of chlorine, making Tapwater safe to use in Andalusia.

Tapwater Spain: Where does it come from?

Spain obtains its Tapwater from different sources depending on the region. Most of the water is obtained from rivers, reservoirs, groundwater and wells. Madrid, for example, often draws its water from reservoirs in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range.

In some places, seawater is also used. However, this must first be turned into fresh water through desalination - an environmentally questionable process. ⁷

Tapwater Spain: Bottled mineral water as an alternative?

Due to the poor water quality in the past, many people still believe that the Tapwater in Spain is not drinkable. For this reason, locals and tourists alike often resort to bottled water. However, this poses a new problem for the popular vacation destination, as there are hardly any deposit bottles or well-developed recycling systems. The result is huge amounts of plastic waste.

To counteract this, the Ley de Residuos y Suelos Contaminados para una Economía Circular (Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils for a Circular Economy) was passed in April 2022. Article 18 of this new law states that Tapwater must be offered free of charge in hotels, restaurants, etc. It also calls for more controlled drinking fountains in public spaces. The aim is to reduce the use of disposable containers and thus plastic waste. ⁸

So don't be afraid to order a glass of Tapwater the next time you're in a restaurant. Don't know how to do it? Then we have a little Spanish course for you:

Order water in Spanish

If you want to order water in Spain, it's very easy. Here is the necessary vocabulary:
"Quiero...

...una jarra de agua = a jug of water
... un vaso de agua = a glass of water
... una botella de agua = a bottle of water

... agua del grifo = Tapwater
... agua mineral = mineral water
... agua con gas = water with sparkling water
... agua sin gas = water without sparkling water

..., por favor."

Example:

"Quiero un vaso de agua del grifo, por favor."
"I would like a glass of Tapwater, please."

Water filter: so you can drink the water in Spain without any problems

In most of Spain, Tapwater is safe to drink, at least in the short term. The biggest problem is the high chlorine content and therefore the unfamiliar taste. If you don't like the taste of the local water and don't want to take any risks with the quality, a water filter is the ideal solution. This reduces the chlorine from the drinking water and thus removes the unpleasant taste and odor.

In addition to classic drinking water filters for the sink, Alb Filter also offers special camping filters. Whether in your vacation home or motorhome - with our filters you can always enjoy fresh water on your vacation in Spain.

Conclusion: Drinking Tapwater in Spain

The fact that you can't drink Tapwater in Spain is largely a rumor. Only in selected regions is it not recommended to drink tap water - detailed information on this is provided by the Ministry of Health.

However, the sometimes very strong chlorine taste and smell can take some getting used to. If you don't like this, we recommend a high-quality water filter. That way you can say "Adiós chlorine" and "Hola fresh water".

FAQs on Tapwater in Spain

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

Can you drink from the tap in Barcelona?

In principle, you can drink Tapwater in Barcelona, at least for the duration of your vacation. However, the water in the Catalan capital is highly chlorinated, which is why many people advise against drinking tap water.

Can you drink tap water in Mallorca?

In many parts of Mallorca, the Tapwater is at least occasionally drinkable, including in the island's capital Palma. However, the water in the municipalities of Costitx, Manacor, Felanitx, Santanyi, Ariany and Lloret is not suitable for drinking. This is primarily due to the legal limit for nitrate being exceeded.

Where does Mallorca get its drinking water from?

Mallorca draws its drinking water from various sources, including rivers, reservoirs, wells and the sea.

Why does Spain use so much water?

Agriculture and tourism in particular consume an extremely large amount of water in Spain. Due to increasingly long dry periods, water is slowly becoming a scarce commodity on the peninsula. ⁹