Is it safe to drink the water in the Dominican Republic?
While drinking water can be safe in many countries, the Dominican Republic is not a country where risks should be taken when it comes to water consumption. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that water should only be consumed in the Dominican Republic if it is purified or from a bottle that is sealed.
There is a different ecological environment in the Dominican Republic that impacts the water system, as well as the microbes in the water that could negatively affect digestive systems that are not used to it. People with sensitive stomachs should take extra precautions to use purified or bottled water to brush teeth, drink, and for washing fruits and vegetables, as local water can pose a greater risk for those with sensitive stomachs or immune systems.
Cholera cases have been reported in the Dominican Republic. Cholera can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and in some cases, can be fatal if left untreated. Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic, and other infectious diseases like hepatitis, filariasis, and leptospirosis are all prevalent when serious outbreaks occur.
How To Safely Drink Beverages in the Dominican Republic
Drinking safe water does not have to be complicated while traveling. There are a few precautions you can take to ensure your beverages are safe.
- Choose water that has been treated, boiled, purified, or filtered.
- Only drink carbonated drinks that have sealed caps.
- Make sure powdered drinks or concentrated beverages are mixed with treated or filtered water.
- Uncap bottled water yourself, or make sure it is uncapped within eyesight.
- Drink hot coffee or tea from a boiled water source.
Safety Tips For Water Use
Brushing Teeth
Brushing teeth with tap water in the Dominican Republic is not recommended unless the water quality is guaranteed to be filtered or treated. In most cases, using boiled, filtered, or bottled water is a safer option for traveling. A great resource to include in travel gear is a water purification filter bottle that can serve as a trusty companion for safe drinking water while outside and when brushing teeth.
Showering
It is safe to shower nearly everywhere in the Dominican Republic, but remember not to swallow or even get drops of the shower water in your mouth.
Ice Cubes
Ice cubes in the Dominican Republic can differ based on the location. For many resorts, ice cubes are made with purified water, which makes it safe to consume. In cases of bars outside of a resort, it is best to avoid ice cubes, as it can come from untreated tap water that could bother the intestinal tract.
Choose a Filtered Water Bottle For Travel
Most filter water bottles have simple charcoal filters which work for tap water at home are insufficient for traveling in the Dominican Republic. Use a water bottle filtration system that protects against bacteria, parasites, viruses like Hepatitis A, chemicals, pesticides, and dangerous heavy metals. Water-to-Go has a 3-in-1 filter built for places like the Dominican Republic with the ability to provide clean drinking water wherever you roam.
Rethink Bottled Water.
Bottled water is easy to come by in the Dominican Republic, but not all bottled water brands are equal. If bottled water feels like the only option, then make sure it is from a reputable brand that filters its water products. At home, it may be common to refill bottled water with tap water, but that is not advised while traveling unless a purified water source is available.
Plastic pollution is a global problem, and recycling is not a concrete answer for what lies ahead. One million plastic water bottles are bought around the world every minute. More than 17 million barrels of oil are required to produce enough plastic water bottles to meet the average demand.
79% of this plastic never makes it to a recycling facility, which means it ends its life cycle at the bottom of a landfill, in our oceans, and litters our beaches. It is why Water-to-Go made a 26 oz filter that replaces nearly 400 of the single-use plastic bottles that plague the environment.
More Water, Less Weight.
A water purifier bottle lets you travel farther and with greater ease since you can carry just one bottle that can be filled up from any freshwater source. With the ability to filter out pollutants and chemicals, you can drink water safely anywhere.
Conclusion: Play It Smart
While vacationing in the Dominican Republic, play it smart while hydrating. Unless the water source is treated or purified, take precautionary measures when drinking water, crunching on ice cubes or eating fruits and vegetables.
For peace of mind, invest in a water filter bottle that helps you reach the vacation of your dreams without any gastrointestinal distress.
If you have made it this far, get a free 15% discount on Water-to-Go water filter bottles for travel using the coupon code “DR15” at checkout.
