The Low-Down on Drinking the Tap Water in Puerto Vallarta Laura Olds - A Piece of Travel
go to original October 21, 2022

Is It Safe to Drink the Tap Water in Mexico? (TwoExpatsMexico)

“Don’t drink the water in Mexico” is the advice you’ll hear from people who’ve traveled to Mexico. But you may have also heard that Puerto Vallarta looks like a U.S. beach city with taco stands.

So, it begs the question - is the drinking water in Puerto Vallarta safe?

The drinking water in Puerto Vallarta is safer than most other parts of Mexico, but you shouldn’t drink it unless you know it’s passed through a local filter. That said, it’s safe to brush your teeth, and you probably won’t have to worry about explosive trips to the baño if you consume a bit of PV’s H2O.

I’ve visited Puerto Vallarta several times. Thankfully, I haven’t ever had a bout of “traveler’s stomach.”

Read on to learn more about why Puerto Vallarta’s drinking water is safer than other parts of Mexico.

Is the Water Safe to Drink in Puerto Vallarta?

The water in Puerto Vallarta is, in theory, safe to drink. But I wouldn’t try it without knowing it’s been filtered.

One of the biggest reasons that the water in most parts of Mexico is unsafe to drink is because of old, poorly maintained pipes.

Galvanized steel was the primary material for water pipes before the 1970s. Unfortunately, this steel corrodes over time, chipping off into drinking water and making it unfit for consumption.

Furthermore, old water pipes sometimes contain traces of lead, and bacteria build-up is practically a given.

Since Puerto Vallarta’s tourist boom started in the 1960s and 1970s, it’s on the cusp of when Mexico would have had access to better pipes (though whether they implemented them as early on as countries like the U.S. is uncertain).

Of course, contamination around a water source also plays a significant role in how potable water is.

The bottom line is that Puerto Vallarta has many new buildings and filtration systems, so its water is safer to drink than in many other Mexican cities.

But that doesn’t mean you should consume Puerto Vallarta drinking water straight from the tap.

Read the rest at A Piece of Travel

Related: Ask a Doctor: What Happens if I Drink Too Much Water? (Washington Post)

Notice: This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before making any changes to your wellness routine.

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