Top Places You Shouldn’t Drink the Water

You’ve all heard the warnings about not drinking the water in most third-world countries, but there are some places with modern amenities where it’s still not safe to take a sip. A lot of it has to do with the fact your body isn’t used to the water in the area. Just because you see locals drinking at these five places, doesn’t mean you should.

Brazil

As one of the most populated countries in South America, you’d think the water here would be safe. Even the waters in Rio de Janeiro aren’t safe to drink thanks to lurking microbes. Only the poorest locals drink from the tap here, so you probably should avoid it.

Mexico

Locals in Mexico consume more bottled water than any place in the world, around 43 gallons per year, thanks to lingering fears of Montezuma’s Revenge. City officials recently passed legislation requiring restaurants to add filtration systems to their tap water, but you probably don’t want to take a chance on them just yet.

Eastern Europe

Many people make the mistake of thinking the water in Europe is crystal clear. That’s not true once you head east of Poland. The water in countries like Belarus, Romania and Bulgaria will turn your stomach upside down if you’re not used to them. It’s best to stay clear.

Pretty Much All of Africa

Even Cape Town can’t escape the horrors of African water parasites. No matter where you’re at in this great continent, make sure you pack along enough bottles of water to keep you hydrated.

China/Most of Asia

You’d think one of the most populated countries in the world would’ve gotten a handle on proper water filtration a long time ago, but China is still behind the times in this area. In fact, there aren’t many places in all of Asia where the water is safe to drink.