Safety & PracticalitiesBy Clever Tourists · Published
No. In the Philippines, drink bottled water or purified refill water, and don't rely on the tap. World Travel Guide advises that water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilised first. Manila's two water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad, say their supply meets national drinking-water standards, but the pipes inside buildings are the weak point and outside Metro Manila quality varies widely. We were in the Philippines from November to December 2022, in Manila, Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido, Coron, Oslob, Moalboal and Cebu City, and this page explains the safe habit for each stop.
• Drink: sealed bottled water, or purified refill water from a station or hotel dispenser.
• Ice: use in established restaurants and bars, where it is commercially produced; avoid it at small stalls. World Travel Guide advises that water for making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilised, which is why commercial ice is the safe choice.
• Brushing teeth: bottled or purified water, especially on islands.
• Fruit and salad: peel your own fruit; be careful with raw salads and cut fruit from street carts.
Manila Water, which serves the east zone, and Maynilad, which serves the west zone, say their water meets the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water. Manila Water reported testing more than 6,709 samples in November 2023, above the number the Department of Health required, and Maynilad has said its west-zone water is certified safe even straight from the tap. These are the companies' own statements. The Department of Health statement we found dates from 2011, when it said Metro Manila water was safe, and we found no recent DOH advisory. Manila Water itself notes that plumbing after the meter must be in good condition for the water to be safe at the tap.
For a visitor staying a night or two, that translates into a simple rule: you cannot check a building's pipes, so use bottled or purified water.
Island water comes from wells, tanks, rain collection and delivery, and quality is variable. In El Nido, Coron, Port Barton and Sabang, guesthouses sell or provide refill water, and shops sell bottled water. Boat tours include drinking water; carry extra in your dry bag on island-hopping days because it is hot and you will sweat. Never drink from streams or waterfalls.
In Cebu, Oslob and Moalboal are also tourist-supplied; the rule is the same. Our Palawan packing list explains kit for boat days, and our Philippines 4-week route shows the order we went.
The Philippines has an extensive network of water refilling stations selling purified water by the gallon or litre in your own container; it is much cheaper than single-use bottles, and many resorts and homestays use them. Ask your guesthouse where to refill. Bringing a large reusable bottle and a lightweight filter or purification tablets for remote islands cuts waste and cost.
The rainy season brings floods and higher risk of waterborne disease. The CDC's Philippines page notes risks including leptospirosis from water contaminated with animal urine, and cholera and typhoid from unsafe food and water, and advises avoiding unsafe food and water and contaminated water, and not wading through floodwater. Check our best time to visit the Philippines for the dry season, and our vaccines and health prep guide before you fly.
If you get a stomach upset, rest, rehydrate with oral rehydration salts and seek medical care if symptoms persist or you have fever or blood in the stool.
Convenience stores and supermarkets sell bottled water in multiple sizes. Larger bottles are cheaper per litre. Keep small bills and coins for small shops; see our Philippines tipping guide, and our Philippines grocery guide for what to buy. For wider safety, see our Philippines safety guide.
Bring a large reusable bottle and fill it at refill stations or hotel dispensers rather than buying small bottles. On island-hopping trips, take at least a litre per person plus spare, and keep it in a dry bag.
Check the seals on bottles, keep hand sanitiser for meals, and have oral rehydration salts in your first-aid kit. Avoid ice at small stalls and fruit shakes made with unknown water if you are cautious. If a flood or typhoon hits, buy bottled water in advance, because refill stations may close.
Children, pregnant travellers, older travellers and anyone with a weak stomach should be strict about purified water and cooked food. The CDC's Philippines page lists cholera among the diseases linked to unsafe food and water, with typhoid vaccination worth discussing with a travel clinic if you will eat widely outside tourist places.
Everyone benefits from hand hygiene: wash with soap or use sanitiser before meals, especially after boat trips, markets and public transport.
The utilities say it meets national standards, but plumbing varies and guidance for visitors is to boil or purify water before drinking. Use bottled or refill water.
Commercial ice in established restaurants and bars is generally the safe choice. Avoid ice at small stalls where the source is unknown.
World Travel Guide advises that water for brushing teeth should be boiled or otherwise sterilised first, so use bottled or purified water.
Water refilling stations, hotels and guesthouses with purified dispensers, and some resorts. Ask where the nearest refill point is.
Treat island water as unsafe unless it is purified or bottled. Island supplies depend on wells and tanks, and quality varies.
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