My husband and are leaving for Negril (swept away) in a week and I have heard stories from friends who have gone there and gotten sick from the water. I assumed that the water was safe in Jamaica, is this not true? Maybe my friends got sick from the food?

I drink Jamaican tap water, Jamaicans drink it - no trouble here. But bottled water is also available. In fact I always buy a bottle or two of "Cool Runnings" water because i love the label

Sometimes people react to new seasonings, spices and whatnot.

I only get sick in JA from drinking too much red stripe

Been to JA 3 times-never a problem and drank tap H2O all the time. If I remember the water there is naturally filtered by limestone underground and is quite safe. However when in doubt there is always Red Stripe!

The tap water in Jamaica is better tasting that that here at home in the States. I seriously doubt that your friends got sick from the water. That would be a new one.

Was in Negril in April with my teenager and the water definitely tasted better than our tap water at home. My daughter still comments on the Negril water - just one more ploy in her weekly begging to go back. I have been to Jamaica several times and never had a problem with the water.

been there 8 times since '99 and have never been ill due to water (...only jamaican cuisine on occasion)