Is it ok to drink the water in Ireland and Scotland?
 

I'll be traveling to those countries in a couple of weeks.

Beer or whisky might taste better, but the water is fine.

are you talking about tap water or lake water? tap water is likely as safe or safer than yours back home.

That's a bit insulting for Scotland, at least - it's not like the UK is some backwater.

Ireland DID have potable tap water issues in Galway due to local problems in that region, but that was over a half-decade ago and resolved IIRC.

Really, the mind boggles.

What do you think they use in the whisky? Nobody, except maybe some moonshiners, would use bad water to make whiskey or beer.

Folks, go easy. Bad water isn't bad water to most of the natives. The question is there enough difference any the water compared to (I assume) American water to cause any issues for the typical traveler. The answer, no. Perhaps the question is a little naive, but no need to get offended or insult.

The worst water I have ever tasted: Oklahoma City
The second worst water: many sites in mid Florida

Haven't been to Ireland, but water in Scotland is generally excellent.

"Folks, go easy. Bad water isn't bad water to most of the natives."

I agree, but it doesn't stop the question "is the water safe in..." feeling like an insult. If I posted the same question on the US board about e.g. New York how well do you think it would be received?

lots of scottish water is bottled and sold - so it can't be too bad.

Also, Indy-dad, if you are making the argument that foreign water is always potentially problematic to non-natives, by virtue of the fact that it is 'different' then the question is surely redundant, as the answer will be 'no' absolutely everywhere.

I'd say, as a Scot, the OP simply is insulting.

If it is a genuine naive post fair enough..... but does anyone really think we are some sort of African backwater with piss poor sewage management and infected water supplies.

As Ann indicates most of the high volume mineral water brands in the UK are sourced and bottled from natural Scottish locations.

Before we have any more patronising posts let us not forget that genetically we (and Ireland) have supplied every US president since Sherman burned Atlanta.

Thank you very much.

During my first trip to Edinburgh 6 years ago, we go to the hard rock cafe because my sister just had to go. Since we were there to get her the hard rock cafe t shirt that she collects, we decide to eat dinner. The waiter comes to take our order and drinks. When he gets to my Mom she orders water. He looked at her and said "ok bottle or tap?". She asks which is better? His reponse "the tap here isn't bad and much better than most places". So she told him fine with her because that's what she drinks at home. Aferward she said it tasted good. She's still alive and healthy so you should be ok in Scotland.

<<but does anyone really think we are some sort of African backwater with piss poor sewage management and infected water supplies.>>

Unfortunately, there are enough of these types of posts, just here on Fodors, let alone who knows where else, to suggest that the answer is yes. And unfortunately, it speaks volumes about the naïvété/ignorance/lack of education of so many Americans. It also smacks of a certain type of American superiority that is really deplorable - everything here must be better than everything anywhere else. Well, we'll soon see about that, but that's another topic.

I always cringe when I read things like this; then I think of how many members of my extended family would probably ask the same thing and cringe again.

The water in Scotland is fine. But under no circumstances should you attempt to eat the food.

Kidding. Food is fine too. The best fish and lamb anywhere.

Like humpty, the question made me wonder whether the OP knows where Scotland is.

I think it is a legitimate question! I would ask the same thing before drinking tap water anywhere. Not because I think it's a backwater country, but because I know that in certain areas of any country, the water is not always very drinkable. Also, my father is a water engineer, and I have grown up my whole life being told that this water is bad, that water is ok etc. Where I live, in New Zealand, there really are areas where the water is undrinkable, and if you don't know this, and the area locals don't tell you, you will end up drinking less-than-ideal water. New Zealand is not a backwater country, but I wouldn't be offended if someone asked me whether or not the water in a particular city was drinkable or not.

humptynumpty wrote "Before we have any more patronising posts let us not forget that genetically we (and Ireland) have supplied every US president since Sherman burned Atlanta."

Is that a proud boast or an abject confession?

<<lots of scottish water is bottled and sold>>

Yeah, water of life.

;-)

UGH, more ignorance of American history.

Sherman didn't burn Atlanta, the Atlantans (and Confederates) did.

Drinking water has to meet the same standards throughout the EU. If you search online you can read all about those standards, and compare them to the US, or Australia or New Zealand or wherever.

One thing to note though is that not all cold water is drinking water. Due to the way water is stored in tanks in some (older) UK homes the water in bathrooms, whilst fine for cleaning one's teeth, probably shouldn't be drunk if it comes from a tank. It is almost certainly as good as water straight from the main, but there is always the slight risk of contamination.