Considerations Before Drinking Abroad

When many of think of travelling abroad, we are likely to remember the warnings about taking care not to overindulge in alcohol and unfamiliar foods, but many of us overlook the potential dangers of assuming water abroad is safe to drink. Here in Australia, we may rely on water delivery services to have delicious, safe water, but even in the most exclusive hotels in some resorts, this may not be the case.

Is it a Potentially Hazardous Area?

Generally, in developed areas of the world, such as Canada, the United States, North and West Europe have relatively safe drinking water. However, there are some potentially hazardous areas in the world, such as Africa, the Middle East, Central America, South America and Asia. In these areas, you may need to take care before drinking any local water.

Unfortunately, the situation is not always cut and dried. The water quality will depend greatly on the particular area or region where you are staying. If you are staying in a major city, you are likely to have greater access to safe water compared to a rural area. This means that you should consult reliable sources or guidebooks before drinking local water.

Be Wary of Certain Food and Drinks:

Even if you avoid drinking tap water, this doesn’t mean that you will be protected against tummy troubles from poor water quality. There are certain foods and drinks that are prepared with water and could still pose a problem. Iced drinks are likely to be made with tap water, fountain drinks are usually a mix of carbonated tap water with a syrup, and fresh salads tend to be washed in tap water. A good rule of thumb is that if you can peel raw food yourself, it is usually safe. Pre sliced fruit and salads provide an ample surface area for germ growth and pathogens contained in the water.

Don’t Assume Safe is Safe for You:

Finally, you need to consider that just because water is declared safe to drink, it is safe for you. Locals are likely to have adapted immune systems which provides protection against the specific contaminants in the water. If you are used to quality spring water, you will not have this immunity and could get sick. Many resorts take advantage of free spring water delivery services, so it is worth paying a little extra to ensure that you have great quality drinking water.

Getting ill can ruin a fantastic holiday, so it is important that you reduce the risk and consider your exposure to water contaminants. It is worth ordering a few extra smaller bottles from your water delivery service to take as carry on, and checking out your safe water options when you arrive.

If you are considering bottled water home delivery, you should speak to us. Here at Aussie Natural, we not only provide fantastic quality spring water sourced from the Darling Ranges, but also water delivery services. Our team would be happy to answer any queries you may have and tailor a delivery schedule to meet your particular needs.

Alan Scott is a writer across several reputed industrial web posts. He writes for many online journals and portals that are related to natural spring water.