City, Brazil
Can you drink tap water in Rio de Janeiro?
Can you drink the tap water in Rio de Janeiro?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Treated but tastes of chlorine; locals use filters or bottled water. Restaurant ice is generally safe.
Key facts
- In Rio de Janeiro: Treated but tastes of chlorine; locals use filters or bottled water. Restaurant ice is generally safe.
- Across Brazil: Treated in big cities, but locals filter it; drink filtered or bottled. Ice in restaurants and bars is usually bought in and safe.
- Safely managed drinking water: 89% of people in Brazil (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across Brazil
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | Filter or boil |
| São Paulo | Filter or boil |
| Foz do Iguaçu | Filter or boil |
| Florianópolis | Filter or boil |
| Salvador | Filter or boil |
| Jericoacoara | No, drink bottled |
| Ilha Grande | No, drink bottled |
| Paraty | No, drink bottled |
| Búzios | No, drink bottled |
| Fernando de Noronha | No, drink bottled |
| Recife | Filter or boil |
| Fortaleza | Filter or boil |
| Manaus | Filter or boil |
| Pipa | Filter or boil |
| Natal | Filter or boil |
| Maceió | Filter or boil |
| Belo Horizonte | Filter or boil |
| Brasília | Filter or boil |
| Itacaré | Filter or boil |
| Morro de São Paulo | No, drink bottled |
| Chapada Diamantina | Filter or boil |
| Lençóis Maranhenses | No, drink bottled |
| Bonito | Filter or boil |
| Ouro Preto | Filter or boil |
| Curitiba | Filter or boil |
| Porto Alegre | Filter or boil |
| Belém | Filter or boil |
| Balneário Camboriú | Filter or boil |
| Porto de Galinhas | Filter or boil |
| Gramado | Filter or boil |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Rio de Janeiro?
Tap water is treated, but filter or boil it. Treated but tastes of chlorine; locals use filters or bottled water. Restaurant ice is generally safe.
Can you drink tap water in Brazil?
Treated in big cities, but locals filter it; drink filtered or bottled. Ice in restaurants and bars is usually bought in and safe.
More about Rio de Janeiro
- Tap wateracross Brazil
- Safetyin Rio de Janeiro
- Cost of livingin Rio de Janeiro
- Weather & best timein Rio de Janeiro
- Air qualityin Rio de Janeiro
- Internet & coworkingin Rio de Janeiro
- Getting aroundin Rio de Janeiro
- LGBTQ+ friendlyin Rio de Janeiro
- Healthcare & insurancein Rio de Janeiro
- Solo travelin Rio de Janeiro
Going to Rio de Janeiro solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Rio de Janeiro meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- MetrôRio
- Riogaleão Airport
- Santos Dumont Airport (Infraero)
- Visit.Rio
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.