Is tap water safe to drink and why it tastes different

Key rules

• Safety: Tap water is safe to drink in most of Spain, unless your town hall announces a temporary notice.
• Taste: Chlorine and hardness explain most taste differences, and neither is a safety problem.
• Checking: Look up your supply zone in the Ministry of Health's water information system or on your water provider's page.
• Filters: Jug and tap filters need no consent, but a plumbed-in system needs your landlord's written agreement.

Should you drink it?

Yes, in most places. Spanish tap water is regulated, disinfected and monitored all the time, and results are made public. You can drink it from day one in cities and towns across the mainland and the islands.

Two exceptions are worth knowing. Some small rural supplies and old building pipes can have problems. And your municipality can announce a temporary notice that the water is not drinkable. If you see one, use bottled water until it is lifted.

Why it tastes different

Taste depends on where you live, mainly because of chlorine and hardness.

Chlorine. Water is disinfected, usually with chlorine, and it must keep a small residual in the pipes. The legal range at the tap is around 0.2 to 1.0 mg/l. You notice it more after repairs, in summer, or near treatment plants. To reduce it, leave a jug of water open in the fridge for a few hours, or use a carbon filter. If a strong smell lasts, report it to your water provider or town hall.

Hardness. Hard water carries more minerals. It tastes mineral and leaves limescale on kettles, taps and shower screens.

• Soft: the north and northwest (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country) and Madrid's mountain-fed supply.
• Hard to very hard: the Mediterranean coast (Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, parts of Catalonia and Andalusia), the Balearics and the Canary Islands. On the islands, desalinated water also changes the taste.

Neighbouring supply zones can differ, so check your own address.

Drink, filter or buy bottled?

• Drink it straight if the taste is fine to you and there is no local notice.
• Filter it if you dislike the chlorine or the mineral taste. A carbon jug filter helps with chlorine. Filtering is a matter of taste, not safety.
• Buy bottled during a local notice, or if your building has very old pipes and you are worried. Ask your landlord or community of owners about the pipes.

Check your local quality and hardness

1. Look up your municipality in the national drinking-water information system run by the Ministry of Health (Sanidad). It has a public section with data for each supply zone, including hardness.
2. Visit your town hall's website or your water provider's page. Many publish their analyses, and hardness too.
3. Read your water bill. Providers must give quality information on bills or on request, so ask them if it is missing.
4. Look for your regional health department's reports.

How detailed the data is, and how often it is updated, varies by provider and region.

Filters in a rented flat

A jug filter or a filter that clips onto the tap needs no permission. Nothing is altered and you can remove it.

An under-sink or plumbed-in system means work on the installation. A tenant cannot change the dwelling or its fittings without the landlord's written consent. Simple installations that come out without damage are usually tolerated, but get the agreement in writing. Your lease may be stricter, so read it first.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my tap water smell of chlorine?

Tap water smells of chlorine because it is disinfected, usually with chlorine, to stop bacteria. The smell is stronger after repairs, in summer, or near treatment plants.

Which parts of Spain have hard water?

Water is hard to very hard along the Mediterranean coast, including Valencia, Murcia, Alicante, parts of Catalonia and Andalusia, and in the Balearics and Canary Islands. It is soft in the north and northwest and in Madrid. Hard water leaves limescale and a mineral taste, and neighbouring areas can differ.

Where can I check the quality of my local tap water?

You can check local tap water quality in SINAC, the national drinking-water database run by the Ministry of Health, which has public data by supply zone.

Can I install a water filter in a rented flat?

Yes, you can use a jug filter or a tap-attached filter without asking your landlord, because nothing is altered and you can remove it. An under-sink or plumbed-in system counts as works, so get written consent first. Check your lease, as it may say more.