ALOHA!
Tap water in India is not safe drinking water for travelers.
So what to do in order to stay healthy when backpacking around South Asia?!
What’s the best way to drink safe water in India? Are portable water filters the way to go?
Here’s what’s on this page about how to avoid getting sick through water! These are 3 options on how to get safe drinking water in India:
- The easiest way to get safe drinking water in India is to buy bottled water. It’s pretty cheap too. It will cost you about a dollar a day, maybe more if it’s really hot and you are quite active. You’ll be going through a lot of plastic though.
- Use this water purifier along with this water filter for the best chance at getting rid of all the bad stuff that is in Indian water. You can use it with this type of travel water bottle. It is a pretty simple process to get safe water with these, and it takes about a minute. It’s on the expensive side, but it’s more environmentally friendly.
- Carry this more cost-effective water filter as a back-up with you during your travels. Consider it a back-up, and not your primary safe water source, since it may not be enough to filter out all the bad stuff that’s in India water. You may find it to be a bit slow in going through the filtering process.
I’m not a scientist or any sort of water filtration or water purification expert. But I am someone who’s borderline paranoid about getting sick in India! (Err… let’s call is extremely cautious. ;))
So maybe some of these concerns about using a water filter in India are scientifically unfounded. 😉 But it’s not like there’s a whole ton of research out there that shows using a simple water filter will keep you healthy when traveling in India specifically. Because the true question is… what’s in India’s water?!
more on staying healthy in india >> how to treat traveler’s diarrhea – what to pack in a first aid kit for india – is travel insurance for india worth it?
more india travel tips >> what shoes to wear in india – best india guidebooks
Indians use more than just water filters at home
Two of the airbnbs that I stayed at for more than a few days used water purifiers. It was the only water I drank when I stayed at these places. (Here’s why it can be a great idea to stay at an airbnb upon arrival in India!)
One of my airbnbs had this brand of a system for safe drinking water. Note that it’s not just a water filter, but it’s a water purifier. This is a popular brand across households in India.
People who live in India don’t just filter their water, they purify it. So then… wouldn’t it make sense that you would want to purify your water before drinking it too?
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Water filter vs water purifier: What’s the difference?!
A water filter and water purifier will both get rid of the bad stuff that’s of concern from untreated water.
But a water filter doesn’t catch all the bad stuff. Some of the bad stuff is so small that it can pass right through a water filter. So basically, a water purifier can succeed at treating your water when a water filter may fail.
For travel around developed countries like the US and Canada, a water filter is said to be effective at protecting your health against the common bad stuff that’s found in these countries. So a water filter can filter out everything you want it to when you’re backpacking on the trails in the backcountry of these parts of North America.
But when it comes to international travel to developing countries in places like India and maybe other parts of Southeast Asia, there is potentially much more bad stuff in the water. So a water filter may not be enough to filter out everything you want it to in these parts of the world, because there is more to filter out. There is more bad stuff in the water, and water filters may not catch it all.
Will a water filter effectively filter out the bad stuff?
Does a water filter like LifeStraw work in India?
Maybe.
There’s a reason why LifeStraw is so popular and that it’s said to save children’s lives in developing countries. It’s because it does effectively filter out bad stuff that would otherwise make them sick from drinking the water.
That’s why you may consider packing along a water filter for your trip to India, just to have it in an emergency when you need clean drinking water. Although, unless you plan on going to a very rural part of India, or maybe if you’ll be trekking the Indian Himalayas in the far north, then you’ll likely find no problem finding bottled water.
But a water filter could be a more cost-effective option compared to a water purifier if you like to be overly prepared in case of unexpected situations.
But the maybe on whether or not LifeStraw works in India is also why it may not be best to rely on it as your primary source of water. Because it might increase your chances of being exposed to water-borne viruses or bacteria that the water filter doesn’t catch.
What is “bad stuff”?
“Bad stuff” just seemed like an easier way to say “salmonella, e-coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, campylobacter, shigella”… because really, do those names mean anything to you? They are bad! 😉
So what’s the easiest way to get safe drinking water in India?
Simply buying bottled water as you travel around India is really the easy way to go.
You can find a liter of water for around 30 rupees, which is about US$0.50.
1 liter is a little over 4 cups. So if you get the general recommendation of 8 cups of water a day, you can budget in at least a dollar a day for water. It can get hot in India, so you might need more than that!
Make sure you stay hydrated, and get salt and potassium (aka electrolytes) to go with it. Bananas (which contain potassium) are easy to come by in India, and again, pretty cheap.
There does seem to be a scam in India in which shopkeepers will fill a used water bottle with tap water though. So just make sure that you buy a bottle of water in which the seal is fully in tact.
But what if you’re committed to doing your part to help the environment as you get your safe drinking water?
So what if you’re going to be backpacking through India for several weeks or months. That is a lot of plastic bottles you’ll be going through!
You put the travel-friendly portable “pen” in the water for about a minute, and your water is good to go!
There are a few different types of steripen water purifiers available.
For international travel, this steripen ultra can be the most convenient.
These types of water purifiers require batteries in order to operate. And the steripen ultra is currently the only version of steripen that comes with a USB charging option. The others would require you to pack extra batteries from home in case you’re not able to find proper ones (or working ones!) in India.
If you want to be overly cautious and take it a step further…
You may consider not going with just a water purifier. Because it still isn’t doing what water filters do. So you can get this steripen water filter to go with it.
For the water purifier + water filter option to get safe water, you’ll find people buying these specific items as a set:
So… which option to use for clean drinking water when traveling in India?!
Bottled water…?
Water filter…?
Water purifier…?
Bottled water is probably the easiest. And probably the best guarantee that you are drinking safe water.
Best guidebook for planning a trip around India
For planning your trip to India, consider getting this ultimate India guidebook.
It can make planning how to get from one place to another easier. The book will list how to get to nearby destinations, what your best transportation options are, and how much you can expect to pay to get there.
You’ll get restaurant recommendations to lessen the chance of food poisoning in India. (Here’s how to treat traveler’s diarrhea naturally though!)
It will also tell you the best hotels for different budgets and the best places for street shopping. You’ll also get an idea of estimated prices for activities, rickshaws, and hiring guides in each city. This means that you can feel better knowing that you won’t get ripped off and pay too much!
You can get both the book and e-book as a bundle here.
Even though they have the same information, they can both be helpful for different reasons. You can flip through the book to make general plans at home or in your guesthouse in India. When you’re on the road, rather than take the big book with you when you’re out and about, you can scroll through the e-book on your phone.
I’m now an affiliate for Lonely Planet because I believe Lonely Planet India guidebooks are really one of the best books for planning travel to India.
It makes it easier to plan the best trip to India ever!
HAPPY SAFE WATER DRINKING IN INDIA!
more on staying healthy in india >> how to treat traveler’s diarrhea – what to pack in a first aid kit for india – is travel insurance for india worth it?
more india travel tips >> what shoes to wear in india – best india guidebooks
There are affiliate links on this page. Among other partners, as an Amazon Associate, I may receive a commission.
🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling