It is very important to know the quality and purity of the water anywhere you visit and how safe it is to drink. It is rarely safe to drink tap water when visiting another country, even if it is contaminant-free. Most people adjust to the water in their own country, and other water sources can make them sick. Is it safe to drink water in The Bahamas?
The water in The Bahamas is considered safe to drink according to international health standards. However, there is a high chance of contamination in the water, especially after storms. Drinking bottled or boiled water in The Bahamas is always the best option, especially for visitors.
The Bahamas is a developing nation that is mostly supported by tourism. This means that certain aspects of the infrastructure here, such as the water supply, are not as good as in other countries. Let’s explore the water in The Bahamas and determine how safe drinking is for visitors and new residents.
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Is The Tap Water In The Bahamas Safe To Drink?
The water in The Bahamas is generally considered safe to drink. It does adhere to international water safety regulations, but the reality is that not all water is safe for drinking.
According to certain studies, there is a high risk of contamination of water sources in The Bahamas. There are several potential sources of contamination, especially in private wells and from water brought into certain islands by barge.
All water in The Bahamas goes through an extensive purification and treatment process, but this process is imperfect. If the water is heavily contaminated, drinking may be unsafe.
The heavy water treatment process leaves the water with a strange aftertaste. The water here will likely cause stomach trouble for anyone not accustomed to drinking it.
For these reasons, it is usually advised that tourists and visitors to The Bahamas should drink bottled water, or boiled water, to ensure that they do not become sick.
Most locals can safely drink the water, especially on the larger islands where the infrastructure is better, but they are used to the water and have developed immunity to certain contaminates.
Water in rural areas is especially unsafe for visitors and must be boiled or purified to be safe to drink.
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Where Does Water In The Bahamas Come From?
Most of the water in The Bahamas comes from groundwater. This is rainwater that is collected in natural underground chambers called aquifers. The water is pumped out and used for tap water.
Groundwater is either pumped out of aquifers by the municipalities in each area, or private wells and aquifers are dug by landowners and hotels. Private water sources are the most likely to be contaminated or unsafe to drink.
Most water that is pumped via municipal sources is safe to drink, especially for anyone who is accustomed to the water.
However, in recent years, there has been a water shortage in The Bahamas, which has led to water being brought into the islands from North Andros via sea barges.
Is It Better To Drink Bottled Water In The Bahamas?
The water in The Bahamas, especially on the larger islands, is generally considered safe to drink, despite a strange aftertaste. But is it better to drink bottled water?
It is better for all visitors and tourists to drink bottled water rather than drinking tap water. All tap water is likely to cause some stomach issues for visitors.
Even when staying in hotels or eating at restaurants, it is important to request bottled water. Ensure that the bottled water is untampered with, and always drink bottled water that has the most recent bottling date possible.
Bottled water is easily available in The Bahamas, especially in tourist locations, and is always the best option for a safe source of drinking water.
Where To Get Safe Drinking Water In The Bahamas
Photo by Fabian Johnson
If you are in The Bahamas and want to know where to get clean water, the best place to get it is from facilities such as hotels and resorts, and to buy it from stores if possible.
All of these locations have bottled water for sale or freely available, and bottled water is always the best way to ensure that your water is clean and safe to drink. No other water in The Bahamas is as safe as bottled water for visitors.
How To Ensure Your Water Is Safe To Drink In The Bahamas?
If you are visiting The Bahamas and are unsure how to be certain that your water is safe, there are a few ways to make sure that water is safe to drink.
Ensuring that you always have access to safe drinking water is critical when visiting The Bahamas. The temperatures are hot, the air is humid, there are often high winds, and it is very easy to become dehydrated.
It is critical to always have a safe source of drinking water. With this in mind, here are the best ways to ensure that drinking water is always safe when you visit The Bahamas.
- Drink bottled water: drinking bottled water is always the best option, as it is always clean and safe to drink. There is no better option for drinking water in The Bahamas than bottled water.
- Boil your drinking water: if you do not have access to bottled water, always boil your drinking water, regardless of where you get it. Boil large batches of water for at least a minute at a rolling boil and decant the water into safe containers for drinking later when the water has cooled.
- Use chemical water purification: chemical water purification tablets are an excellent way to ensure your drinking water is not harmful to you. These tablets are very effective and work well in most situations.
- Use a LifeStraw: using a LifeStraw or another type of micro-filter is a good way to ensure that your drinking water is clean, especially when drinking it from questionable sources. These should only be used as a last resort and should not be the only method you use for obtaining clean drinking water.
Conclusion
The water in The Bahamas is considered generally safe, but there is a high chance of contamination, especially after heavy storms. The water is heavily treated and tastes strange to many people, mostly due to remineralization and chlorine treatments.
It is always best to drink bottled or boiled water when visiting The Bahamas, as even clean tap water can lead to digestive distress for people not accustomed to drinking it.
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