Water Purification
Water purification is any method of making local water safe to drink, from tablets to UV treatment to boiling.
Water purification is any method of making local water safe to drink, from tablets to UV treatment to boiling.
Also known as
Water treatment, Water sterilisation, Purification tablets, SteriPEN
Why travellers need to know
In roughly 100 countries, tap water is unsafe for visitors. Contaminated water causes traveller's diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. Bottled water is the simplest solution but creates waste and isn't always available in remote areas. Purification methods (tablets, UV pens, filters, boiling) give you safe water anywhere. The right choice depends on your destination and travel style.
Real-world example
You're trekking in the Annapurna region of Nepal where bottled water creates plastic waste and isn't always available. You use a SteriPEN UV purifier to treat water from mountain streams and tea house taps. Each treatment takes 90 seconds and gives you safe drinking water without contributing to the plastic bottle problem that's overwhelming Himalayan trails.
Country-specific notes
🇳🇵 Nepal
Tap water unsafe; purification essential on treks
Nepal's tap water is unsafe nationwide. On trekking routes, safe water stations (run by NGOs) sell purified water cheaply, reducing plastic bottle waste. UV purifiers and chemical tablets are widely used by trekkers. Boiling is reliable but fuel-intensive at altitude.
🇮🇳 India
Tap water unsafe; check bottled water seals
Indian tap water is unsafe for visitors in all regions. Bottled water is widely available but check the seal is intact (refilled bottles are a known issue). Restaurants in tourist areas generally use purified water for cooking and ice, but ask if uncertain.
In restaurants, check if ice is factory-made (cylindrical with a hole) or hand-chipped from a block. Factory ice is made from purified water and is safe.
🇰🇪 Kenya
Tap water is unsafe to drink across most of Kenya outside Nairobi's main urban centre
Rural Kenya, safari camps, and coastal areas rely on local water sources that require treatment. Both portable filtration (Sawyer, LifeStraw) and chemical purification (chlorine dioxide tablets) are effective.
At safari camps, ask whether water is filtered or treated before drinking — high-end camps typically provide purified water throughout, but standards vary widely.
Frequently asked questions
Which water purification method is best for travel?
It depends on your trip. UV pens (SteriPEN) are fastest and lightest for trekking. Chemical tablets (chlorine dioxide) are cheapest and most packable. Pump filters remove particles and pathogens but are heavier. Boiling works everywhere but needs fuel and time. For hotel-based travel, bottled water is simplest.
Does boiling water remove chemical contamination?
No. Boiling kills all pathogens — bacteria, viruses, and protozoa including Cryptosporidium — but does not remove chemical contaminants, heavy metals, or nitrates. For areas with chemical contamination, use an activated carbon filter in addition to boiling, or use bottled water from a sealed source.
Your Nomedic record includes your vaccination history (hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera), so a doctor can assess your baseline protection if you develop waterborne symptoms.