Diamantina

The guide books are ambiguous on this. I am wondering if it is safe to drink the tap water in the following places: Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis, Buenos Aires, Igauazu, and in the Brazilian Pantanal.
Has anyone had any problems with the tap water is these places?
I lived in Brazil for a year about 30 years ago and drank tap water and ate food from street vendors all the time, never got sick once. But I have an older immune system these days, so I am wondering if I can should take better care now.

avrooster

It's safe, but I suggest sticking to bottled mineral water.

pat

Stick with bottled water in Brazil. We did drink tap water in Argentina, and it was fine. We also ate sliced fresh tomatoes in Argentina(yum), something I would never have done in Brazil.

Diamantina

Thanks. While I just hate to add more empty plastic bottles to the landfills of Latin America, I guess I better play it safe and drink bottled water.

AndreiaBrazil

WeI live in Rio and I do not take tap water. You can try mineral water or "filter" water

annetti

We spent 5 weeks in BA last July/August. I drank tap water one Sunday morning, ate at a very nice upscale restaurant for lunch , and I don't know whether it was the water or the food (it could have been the heavy whipped cream dessert), but I was dreadfully ill for about 6 hours, all the usual symptons of food poisoning. Was it the water or the food? I'll never know, but after that I stuck stricly to botted water. And I was fine. I must admit, I was a bit careful about what I ate, too after that, but my husband continued with the usual salads, etc. and was fine.

Brazilnut

I live in Brazil and drink mineral water. But I also drink mineral water in New York, Paris, London...

As to sliced tomatoes, you are totally safe!

Scarlett

We live in BA and drink bottled water because we drank that in the States too, but I cook and make coffee with the tap water.. annetti..it was more likely the food. The water is good here just has more of a chlorinated smell than I like, but there is no taste..I brush my teeth with it, and did so when we visited...I never got sick.

( We won't discuss my sudden weight loss after doing this in Mexico, St Martin, Jamaica, etc lol)