Paris drinking water
 

Have read pro & con in guide books. Is the Paris tap water safe to drink? I take in well over a gallon a day and those little bottles of mineral water can cause one to go broke. I always drink water with meals vice coke tea or coffee (except for B-fast of course.<BR>What say, oh experienced sages of the net world?

troll's don't need water, per se.

As far as I know it is safe to drink tap water. When we visited Paris three years ago, we asked for a carafe d'eau when eating at restaurants and sometimes we'd order a bottled water (with carbonation). But it the tap water tasted fine-no aftertaste. Many diners asked for tap water also. I still believe it's safe.

On my recent (May 2002) trip to Paris, I found myself buying lots of bottled water, and one day I finally broke down and just asked for a carafe. That was the day I got food poisoning and spent the next 36 hours unable to get out of bed. The culprit may have been the water...or it may have been the spaghetti I had for lunch. But I would gladly keep paying for bottled water over wasting a day and a half of a trip. I've been told that tap water in any foreign city can make you sick...it doesn't have to be a "dirty" or "third-world" place. Next time I go back, I won't chance it.

The water is fine. Unless you never drink tap water here in the states. You may not have the tolerance for it Never had a problem anywhere in Europe. Now Central America....thats the trots paradise...

Basically no problem to drink tap water. But one experience : I made green tea with tap water. The tea left in the pot became all dark brown after half an hour or so. It tasted alright while it was hot and light yellowish colored though. It was at a 6th arrondisement appartment.

How do you ask for tap water in French? Do you just ask for 'une carafe d'eau'?What if I just want a glass of tap water? Is there a special phrase?

Saw the term for tap water in a guidebook: l'eau du robinet

In Paris water from the tap is just fine! I drank it all the time! No Problems! And it tasted fine to me.

I drink bottled water no matter where I travel but have never had a problem with Paris tap water when using it while taking a pill in the night,etc.small amounts never affected me in any bad way.I usually buy a bottle of Vitelle at the shop down the street from the hotel and keep it in the hotel room. I order Vitelle in restos also, or Perrier. Or vin rouge:)<BR> Although I must say-well over a gallon a day is too much unless you have a serious health problem, my urologist says that drinking so much water just overworks your kidneys and can flush needed nutrients out of your system.<BR><BR>

Tahnks for the advice all. I would just as soon drink tap water if it is safe to drink.

a glass of water = un verre d'eau<BR><BR>

On my first trip to Paris in '72, I met my Parisienne pen-pal. I asked her "what will happen if I drink the tap water here?" and she replied: "you won't be thirsty anymore". I've been drinking it ever since.

We just came back from Paris 2 weeks ago. A large bottle of water (1.5 Liters), from Monoprix (Grocery store chain) was $.30. We bought the cheapest brand (Terres de Flein), Evian cost a little more.<BR><BR>We too drink a lot of water, so we carried a bottle or two with us in our daypacks. <BR><BR>Based on your 1 gallon needs, I think your water costs would be about $1.00 a day. Although I am sure most tap water is usually fine, in my opinion, a $1.00 is a small price to pay for good tasting and safe water.<BR><BR>Good luck!

Visited Paris 6 times, refilled water bottles in the hotel very often. Never contracted any 'travel' ailments :)