Tap water quality was important for me, as I would stay in Istanbul for a long. During my time there, I asked many local people about the quality of the Tap water, and I found out that tap water can be used on some occasions and sometimes not.
I will share all my experiences of living in this city with you in the following section, so stay with me until the end of this article from Travelling Topic.
Can you drink tap water in Istanbul?
Table of Contents
- Can you drink tap water in Istanbul?
- Why should I not drink tap water in some places in Istanbul?
- Why does Istanbul water have a special taste and smell?
- How do I know that the water in my hotel is suitable for drinking?
- Tips you should know before traveling to Istanbul
- Can tap water be consumed in public places?
According to the reliable notice published on halktv.com.tr, Istanbul’s tap water is completely safe and drinkable.
In a video, the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Authority director drinks tap water to prove that Istanbul water is drinkable. Still, based on my experience in this city, tap water should not be used in some places. I will tell you the reason for what I said.
Watch the video of Raif Mermutlu drinking tap water.
Why should I not drink tap water in some places in Istanbul?
In recent years, the quality of tap water treatment in Istanbul has increased. The tap water in this city passes through several filters, and the probability of bacteria and dirt in it is very low.
Why do I insist you should not drink tap water everywhere in Istanbul despite what I’ve just said?
I have lived in different houses and hotels in Istanbul, and I noticed that the tap water in Istanbul stays in the water tanks of the houses for a long time. If these tanks are dirty, bacteria can grow, changing the taste and smell and accumulating sludge, which makes the water unpleasant for some tourists. This is exactly what happened to me.
Another thing you should know is that Istanbul is a historical and old city. In some old neighborhoods, many buildings still need to be renovated, and their plumbing system is old and metal. These metal pipes have lost their quality and rusted over the years.
I understood this when I visited the Balat neighborhood. Because of this place’s colorful and beautiful houses, I decided to rent a home for one night and stay there.
When I went to the bathroom to shower and opened the faucet, I saw yellow water, which surprised me. I asked the house owner about this, and he said that the pipes in the house are rusted and have changed the color and smell of the water.
However, this was different in newly built houses and luxury hotels. Some hotels exclusively use a very advanced water purification system, which you can ask the hotel staff before booking.
The water quality in some places in Istanbul was not satisfactory for me, who came to this city from America, and I always felt that it had a special smell and taste that I did not like. For this reason, I mostly tried to use tap water for washing and buy bottled water to drink.
Why does Istanbul water have a special taste and smell?
As I heard, Istanbul water contains a high concentration of minerals that must be completely removed during the water treatment. Some substances are added to this water during the water treatment, which may have a taste and smell.
How do I know that the water in my hotel is suitable for drinking?
- If you see a glass cup in your bathroom, the water is suitable for drinking.
- If lids were placed on the glass cups, the water has a high concentration of minerals, and it would be better to use it only for cooking and bathing.
- If you see that the glass is placed upside down inside the bathroom, this means that this water is only suitable for showering.
- If there is no glass in the bathroom, the water quality is not good, and you should not use it.
Tips you should know before traveling to Istanbul
If you stay in Istanbul for a few days, buying bottled water from shops for 10-20 lira is better to use it because it takes some time for travelers to get used to the smell and taste of this city’s tap water.
If you want to immigrate to this city or stay in Istanbul for a long time, renting a newly built house is better to ensure the health of its pipes and reservoir.
I was able to get used to the water in this city after a month. Still, I always boil it completely before consuming the water so that if there are any bacteria or problems in it, it will be destroyed, and I recommend you do this as well.
Can tap water be consumed in public places?
Drinking water in Turkey is purified with chlorine. If you see the word “içilmez” on the water source in the city or parks, this water is unsuitable for drinking. But if you see the words “içilir” or “içme suyu,” it means that this water is clean and suitable for drinking.
Conclusion
In general, I advise tourists who want to stay in Istanbul for less than a week to use bottled water and avoid drinking tap water in Istanbul to reduce the possibility of getting sick during the trip.
In the end, I suggest you to read the following article for more information:
Hello, I lived in Istanbul for two years, if we use Istanbul’s tap water every day, it will definitely have many risks. But in general, the water quality is good, but we can use bottled water for drinking.