Re: how safe is the water in Italy and Rome

On Wed, 16 May 2006, Lj1916 wrote:

I am travelling to Italy in a few weeks. I"ll be in Rome, Florence,
Venice etc. Will there be any problem drinking tap/fawcet water over
there? Or should I stick to bottled water? What about ice?

Tap water is perfectly sound from the hygienic (bacteriologic) point of
view. Despite the large use of mineral (bottled) water than we italians
do.

Here in the north (Milan, where water is mainly from wells) we are
mainly concerned with chemical pollution (e.g. hexavalent chromium), but
the Aqueduct authority say it's OK.

Rome water is renowned to be quite good, it comes mostly from the
sources of river Peschiera. You know, Romans were renowned for aqueducts
already some 2500 years ago ... :-)

Also, is bottled water, such as Dasani or any other name brand easily
available over there?

Never heard of that brand, but there are hundreds and hundreds of
italian mineral water brands. In any supermarket or grocers shop you can
find a large choice, usually in 1.5 liter bottles.

Watch out on the label : "naturale" is without gas ; "gassata" or
"addizionata di acido carbonico" is with gas ; "effervescente naturale"
(not so common) is slightly sparkling without addition of gas.

In stations, bars and alike you can also find smaller 0.5 liter bottles
(handy to carry with you, specially when refilled with tap water). Price
may be slightly higher, but not a rip-off except in very touristy areas.

A bottle is "bottiglia", a little bottle (0.5 l) is "bottiglietta".


Can't help you about ice, that's something I (as most italians) hate.
When you buy water bottles in a bar, they are usually cooled, while
those in a supermarket are kept at ambient temperature.

In a restaurant or bar you can ask for "ghiaccio" (ice), but I've almost
never seen ice cube machines in hotels here.

We do use ice to put on a wound, not to spoil otherwise good drinks :-)

Except that (particularly in some places in the south) you may be
tempted to order a "granita", which is finely ground ice with some fruit
syrup, or mint, or even coffee. That's nice.

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