I’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
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Tap water - you already have plenty of answers. Fonts and other sources in towns and villages are generally marked, and I never saw one marked as potable, although I wasn't checking religiously. The markings vary, and not every source that isn't tap water is marked. The most cogent explanation I have seen for this is that villages won't or can't afford the treatment and testing regimes to certify these sources as potable.I’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
No, the water is safe. I do drink filtered water when I'm at my daughter's house in LA - the water is perfectly safe to drink, but it just doesn't taste great.I'm from San Diego, but no longer reside in CA....did something happen to make it unsafe?
I walked Porto to SdC in July 2023 and found that the tap water in Portugal in average was better in taste than in Spain. You can drink tap water and be fine. If it's not for human consumption it should be labelled as "agua impotavel!"I’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
I live in Paso Robles and our area has very hard water with a bad taste. We only drink filtered or bottledNo, the water is safe. I do drink filtered water when I'm at my daughter's house in LA - the water is perfectly safe to drink, but it just doesn't taste great.
That’s what I’ll do as well, thanksAlso from California! The water in Portugal is good however I found there weren’t as many Camino fountains on the CP as there were on the CF so I did find myself but a big bottle at the end of each day to refill my pack bottle and to drink that night to rehydrate.
Maybe, in Portugal, it would be labelled potável because, you know, they speak Portuguese and not Spanish?Tap water - you already have plenty of answers. Fonts and other sources in towns and villages are generally marked, and I never saw one marked as potable, although I wasn't checking religiously. The markings vary, and not every source that isn't tap water is marked. The most cogent explanation I have seen for this is that villages won't or can't afford the treatment and testing regimes to certify these sources as potable.
When I have collected from such sources, I have treated the water with a purification tablet before drinking it.
This sounds about right. There are several out-in-the-open faucets in our neighbourhood. One is marked agua impotavel; the others have no marking. After several years of dealing with Portuguese officialdom and its penny-wise pragmatism, I would guess that the official response to "why isn't it marked drinkable?" would be "why would we? Of course it's drinkable if we don't say otherwise!"I walked Porto to SdC in July 2023 and found that the tap water in Portugal in average was better in taste than in Spain. You can drink tap water and be fine. If it's not for human consumption it should be labelled as "agua impotavel!"
Have fun and a great experience!
My husband and I bicycled the Portugues route in 2022 and had no issues with tap water in Portugal. Bon Camino!I’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
All water is safe to drink due to the high cross european standards. Any water not to those standards will have a notice.I’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
Clearly not all water is safe to drink, nor, in my experience, is all tap water. I have found outdoor taps in places labelled 'non-potable' or the equivalent. It appeared to me that municipalities and other organisations were using recycled water in their parks and gardens, when outdoor taps were clearly labelled.All water is safe to drink due to the high cross european standards. Any water not to those standards will have a notice.
Off subject but how was bicycling the CP? We did the CF 3 years ago and loved it…My husband and I bicycled the Portugues route in 2022 and had no issues with tap water in Portugal. Bon Camino!
That brave of you to drink California tap water.I drink the tap water in Portugal, but I also will drink tap water in California.
It was wonderful bicycling the CP! This was our first Camino and we found the infrastructure was excellent all the way, people were friendly...just a terrific experience! I would highly recommend a Camino by bicycle.Off subject but how was bicycling the CP? We did the CF 3 years ago and loved it…
tap water yes, fountains maybeI’m leaving in 11 days for my CP. I live in California and would not drink tap water unless it’s filtered however I remember drinking from plenty of fountains in Spain. Is it the same in Portugal or should I plan to just buy bottled water? TIA
It is a lot better than Flint,
Michigan!
And de México, too!It is a lot better than Flint,
Michigan!
In beer there is FreedomI never drink water. I know what fish do in it….
You are a W.C. Fields aficionado perhapsI never drink water. I know what fish do in it….
Acquaintances of mine who have indulged while in Portugal have suffered no obvious ill effects. For the more risk averse I recommend Ginjinha but do be careful not to swallow the pips
Portugal is in the European Union and EU member states have to comply with The recast Drinking Water Directive (DWD) is the EU's main law on drinking water. It concerns the access to and the quality of water intended for human consumption to protect human health. The recast is a response by the Commission to the European Citizens' Initiative 'Right2Water. So unless it states is not drinking water it should be safe.Maybe, in Portugal, it would be labelled potável because, you know, they speak Portuguese and not Spanish?