City in Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Can you drink tap water in Cali?
Can you drink the tap water in Cali?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Tap water is treated by Emcali but locals and visitors often drink filtered or bottled water; avoid ice in small places.
Key facts
- In Cali: Tap water is treated by Emcali but locals and visitors often drink filtered or bottled water; avoid ice in small places.
- Across Colombia: Safe from the tap in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled or filtered on the Caribbean coast, in small towns and rural areas.
- Safely managed drinking water: 74% of people in Colombia (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across Colombia
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Medellín | Yes, drinkable |
| Cartagena | No, drink bottled |
| Bogotá | Yes, drinkable |
| Santa Marta | No, drink bottled |
| Cali | Filter or boil |
| Salento | Filter or boil |
| Guatapé | Filter or boil |
| San Andrés | No, drink bottled |
| Minca | No, drink bottled |
| Palomino | No, drink bottled |
| Villa de Leyva | Filter or boil |
| San Gil | Filter or boil |
| Jardín | Filter or boil |
| Barranquilla | Filter or boil |
| Pereira | Filter or boil |
| Leticia | No, drink bottled |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Cali?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Tap water is treated by Emcali but locals and visitors often drink filtered or bottled water; avoid ice in small places.
Can you drink tap water in Colombia?
Safe from the tap in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled or filtered on the Caribbean coast, in small towns and rural areas.
More about Cali
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Cali tourism
- MIO (Metrocali)
Verdicts reflect official utility statements and what locals actually do. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.