City in West Bengal, India
Can you drink tap water in Kolkata?
NoNo, drink bottled
Can you drink the tap water in Kolkata?
Don't drink the tap water. Tap water is treated but variable. Drink bottled or RO-filtered water and avoid ice at street stalls.
Key facts
- In Kolkata: Tap water is treated but variable. Drink bottled or RO-filtered water and avoid ice at street stalls.
- Across India: Drink bottled or RO-filtered water; many hotels and cafés offer refills. Avoid ice and raw salads at cheap places.
- Safely managed drinking water: 76% of people in India (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across India
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Delhi | No, drink bottled |
| Goa | No, drink bottled |
| Mumbai | No, drink bottled |
| Jaipur | No, drink bottled |
| Agra | No, drink bottled |
| Varanasi | No, drink bottled |
| Rishikesh | No, drink bottled |
| Bangalore | No, drink bottled |
| Udaipur | No, drink bottled |
| Kochi | No, drink bottled |
| Kolkata | No, drink bottled |
| Hyderabad | No, drink bottled |
| Manali | No, drink bottled |
| Dharamshala | No, drink bottled |
| Leh | No, drink bottled |
| Chennai | No, drink bottled |
| Pondicherry | No, drink bottled |
| Varkala | No, drink bottled |
| Hampi | No, drink bottled |
| Amritsar | No, drink bottled |
| Jodhpur | No, drink bottled |
| Jaisalmer | No, drink bottled |
| Pushkar | No, drink bottled |
| Palolem | No, drink bottled |
| Anjuna | No, drink bottled |
| Darjeeling | No, drink bottled |
| Munnar | No, drink bottled |
| Alleppey | No, drink bottled |
| Andaman Islands | No, drink bottled |
| Shimla | No, drink bottled |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Kolkata?
Don't drink the tap water. Tap water is treated but variable. Drink bottled or RO-filtered water and avoid ice at street stalls.
Can you drink tap water in India?
Drink bottled or RO-filtered water; many hotels and cafés offer refills. Avoid ice and raw salads at cheap places.
More about Kolkata
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Kolkata Metro Railway
- West Bengal Tourism
- Kolkata Airport (Airports Authority of India)
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 Spotted something out of date?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.