Map created by Pedal Chile. Data was sourced from the EPI rankings of drinking water. (Lower the number the better)
Can I drink the tap water in Patagonia?
Yes. You can drink the tap water in Patagonia as the water is safe. However, If you have a sensitive stomach, then it's advisable to drink bottled water as gastrointestinal discomfort can affect those unaccustomed to the region's water.
Is well-water or water from streams & rivers safe to drink?
No. When it comes to WELL-WATER or drinking from STREAMS/RIVERS you will need to filter/purify it prior to consumption.
Southerly Argentina & Chile = Patagonia
According to the EPI score, Chile’s water has less risk factors associated from consumption, compared to Argentina.
The Patagonian region is comprised of two separate countries; southerly Chile and Argentina.
Since two nations encompass Patagonia it’s important to look at both countries drinking water supply systems.
Can I drink tap water in Chile?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
“Food and water standards in Chile are similar to those in the United States. Most travelers do not need to take special food or water precautions beyond what they normally do at home.
However, travelers visiting rural or remote areas that are served by unregulated water sources such as private wells should take special precautions to ensure the safety of their drinking water.” -((emphasis mine)
Yanira drinking tap water
Tap water is NOT safe in San Pedro de Atacama (northern part of Chile close to the Peru border)
Can I drink Tap water in Argentina?
For Argentina, the CDC doesn’t suggest drinking tap or well water and recommends:
Drinking:
Bottled water that is sealed
Water that has been disinfected
Ice made with bottled or disinfected water
Carbonated drinks
Hot coffee or tea
Pasteurized milk
Fitz Roy, Patagonia, Argentina
Don’t Drink:
Tap or well water
Ice made with tap or well water
Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice)
Unpasteurized milk
Chile & Argentina Drinking Water Rankings
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) has scores/rankings for global drinking water. The EPI measures drinking water by:
Per capita illnesses from consumption of water
Drinking water rankings out of 180 countries, according to the EPI rankings:
Chile - 30th (Score = 79.81/100)
Argentina - 35th (Score = 69.90/100)
United States - Tied for first place with 9 other countries (100/100)
Water Quality Index: Argentina & Chile
The Water Quality Index (WQI) was developed in 2008 and was the first global effort at reporting and estimating water quality based on five parameters: dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH-value, and total nitrogen & phosphorous concentrations.
Chile’s WQI score = 74.32/100 (fair)
Argentina WQI score = 85.80/100 (good)
WQI Score Descriptions:
95 - 100 = Excellent: All measurements are within objectives virtually all of the time
80-94 = Good: Conditions rarely depart from natural or desirable levels
65-79 = Fair: Conditions sometimes depart from natural or desirable levels Marginal
45-64 = Marginal: Conditions often depart from natural or desirable levels
0-44 = Poor: Conditions usually depart from natural or desirable levels
U.S. Dept of State & drinking water abroad
I contacted the United States Embassy in both Chile and Argentina, which is a branch of the U.S. Department of State and asked them if water was safe to drink in both Chile’s Patagonia and Argentina's Patagonia:
- U.S. Embassy in Chile:
“In general drinking tap water in Chile is safe. However, we recommend exercise caution as not everybody´s immune system reacts the same way and checking with your doctor is advised”
- US Embassy in Argentina:
"We have not received reports of unsafe drinking water in Patagonia.”
Do I need to filter/purify water from streams in Patagonia?
Yes. You should filter all water no matter how pristine it may look while recreating in Patagonia.
Take precautions to avoid clogging your filter as many streams/lakes are silt-rich from glacier run-off.
Whether hiking the O/W/Q in Torres del Paine or mountain biking/cycling around the Lake District, you should purify your water every-time.
Final Thought
Both countries have at a minimum ‘fair’ drinking water, according to their EPI and WQI scores, but the CDC has different suggestions. If you want to follow the recommendations of the CDC, you can drink tap water in Chile, but not Argentina.
However, nothing ruins a trip as quickly as getting sick. If you feel more comfortable drinking bottled water, then go for it. I drink the tap water daily in Chile’s Patagonia. Also, I drink it in Argentina while visiting or riding……but my immune system has grown accustomed.
Jesse is Director of Pedal Chile and lives in Chile’s Patagonia (most of the year). Jesse has a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance and enjoys riding single-track down the active volcano near Pucón. I’m also an avid reader and writer for Pedal Chile.
Want to see pics of Patagonia? Check out our photo gallery
Sources: “Can I Drink Tap Water in Patagonia”
CDC.gov. 2020. Argentina - Traveler View | Travelers' Health | CDC. [online]
CDC.gov. 2020. Chile - Traveler View | Travelers' Health | CDC. [online] Available at: <https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/chile
Epi.envirocenter.yale.edu. 2020. Environmental Performance Index. [online]
Rickwood, C. and Carr, G., 2008. Development and sensitivity analysis of a global drinking water quality index. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 156(1-4), pp.73-90.
Srebotnjak, T., Carr, G., de Sherbinin, A. and Rickwood, C., 2012. A global Water Quality Index and hot-deck imputation of missing data. Ecological Indicators, 17, pp.108-119.