Is it safe to drink tap water in Indonesia?

Travelers to Indonesia should be aware that tap water is unsafe to drink unless it has been treated using the techniques outlined below, especially in popular tourist destinations like Bali.

In Bali, why do we not drink tap water? The water supply is the first of two problems. The purified water that comes out of your tap at home undergoes a different filtration procedure than Bali's tap water.

The last thing you want to do is drink tainted water, and there's a significant probability that the water coming out of the tap is tainted.

The primary issue lies in the water distribution system. While water may be treated at the source, it can become contaminated during transportation through old or poorly maintained pipelines. Additionally, water quality varies significantly between urban and rural areas, with rural regions being more vulnerable to contamination. This is because bacteria, viruses, and/or amoeba may be present in the water. This type of tainted water can lead to the development of certain really unpleasant illnesses.

In Bali, tap water can occasionally include cholera, typhoid, amoebic dysentery, and even hepatitis A, especially during periods of intense rainfall or flooding.

If you are staying in Indonesia for a long period of time, you should boil your water at your hotel or homestay and take it along with you while in Indonesia.