Is Tap Water Safe in Morocco? What Travellers Should Know

Short answer: tap water in Morocco's big cities is treated and is drunk every day by millions of Moroccans, but most visitors are better off drinking bottled or filtered water for the length of a short trip. Not because the water is dirty, but because an unfamiliar water supply is one of the easiest ways to lose a day of your holiday to an upset stomach. Brushing your teeth with tap water in a city hotel is fine for most people. In the mountains and the desert, treat tap and well water with more caution.

This guide covers what is actually in the tap, where the risk is higher, what to do about ice and salads, and how to stay hydrated without buying a mountain of plastic.

#Is Moroccan tap water treated?

Yes. In Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Tangier, Agadir and the other large cities, drinking water is treated and distributed through the public network, and it is chlorinated. Locals drink it, cook with it and make mint tea with it.

What changes from city to city is taste and mineral content. Some cities' water tastes noticeably of chlorine; some is quite hard. Neither makes it unsafe, but both are reasons many residents also buy bottled water for drinking.

The real issue for travellers is not contamination of the network but adaptation. Your gut is used to the bacteria and minerals in your water at home. Any change, even to perfectly safe water, can cause a mild upset in the first days. On a trip of one or two weeks, avoiding that risk is simply the sensible choice.

#Where to be more careful

• Old buildings in the medina. Many riads are centuries old and pipes, rooftop tanks and storage cisterns vary in condition. The water entering the building is treated; what happens on the way to your tap is less certain.
• Mountain villages in the Atlas. Villages around Imlil, the Ourika Valley and the High Atlas often use spring or river water. It may be perfectly clean, but it is not treated the way city water is. Drink bottled water or use a filter bottle.
• Desert camps. Camps around Merzouga and in the Zagora region usually rely on wells and delivered water. Use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
• Public fountains. The decorated fountains you see in the medinas are beautiful and historic. Admire them; do not drink from them.

#Bottled water in Morocco

Bottled water is sold everywhere: corner shops (hanouts), supermarkets, cafés, petrol stations and hotels. Well-known Moroccan brands include Sidi Ali, Aïn Saïss and Sidi Harazem for still water and Oulmès for sparkling. A large bottle from a corner shop costs a few dirhams; the same bottle in a hotel minibar or a tourist restaurant costs several times more, so it is worth buying a stock at the start of each day.

Check that the cap is sealed when you buy. It is rarely a problem, but it costs nothing to look.

#Ice, salads, fruit and mint tea

• Mint tea and coffee are made with boiled water. They are safe.
• Ice in good hotels, established restaurants and cafés is normally made from filtered water. At street stalls and small juice stands, you cannot know, so skip ice there if you want to be careful.
• Fresh orange juice from the stalls in Jemaa el-Fna is a classic Marrakech experience. The juice itself is fine; the risk comes from glasses rinsed in a bucket. If you are cautious, ask for it in a plastic cup or have it at a café.
• Raw salads are washed in tap water. In reputable restaurants this is rarely a problem. If you have a sensitive stomach, favour cooked dishes for the first few days: tagines, couscous, soups and grilled meat are cooked for a long time and are among the safest foods you can eat.
• Fruit you peel (oranges, bananas, clementines) is always a safe snack.

#Brushing your teeth and showering

Showering in tap water is completely fine. For brushing your teeth, most travellers in city hotels use tap water without problems. If you have a very sensitive stomach, or you are in a mountain lodge or desert camp, use a bottle by the sink.

#Staying hydrated without the plastic

Morocco is a dry country, and in summer, or on a long desert drive, you will drink far more than you expect. Some practical habits:

• Carry a filter bottle. A bottle with a proper filter lets you refill from the tap in cities and from treated sources in the mountains. This is the single most effective way to cut plastic.
• Ask your riad for a refill. Many riads and hotels keep large dispensers of filtered water and are happy to fill your bottle.
• Buy large bottles, not small ones. A 5-litre bottle in your room or vehicle is cheaper and produces far less waste than a string of half-litre bottles.
• On a private tour with us, water is kept in the vehicle for the whole journey, so you can refill as you go.

#If you do get an upset stomach

It happens to many travellers and is usually over in a day or two. Rest, drink plenty of bottled water with oral rehydration salts (sold in every pharmacy), and eat plain food. Moroccan pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are excellent and pharmacists are used to advising visitors, often in French and sometimes in English. If symptoms are severe, include a high fever or last more than a couple of days, see a doctor.

#Frequently asked questions

Can you drink the tap water in Marrakech?

Marrakech's tap water is treated and drunk by residents, but visitors on a short trip are usually advised to drink bottled or filtered water to avoid an upset stomach while their body adjusts.

Is it safe to brush your teeth with tap water in Morocco?

In city hotels and riads, yes for most people. In mountain villages and desert camps, use bottled water.

Is ice safe in Morocco?

In established hotels, restaurants and cafés, ice is usually made from filtered water. At street stalls, skip it if you want to be cautious.

What is the best bottled water in Morocco?

Sidi Ali, Aïn Saïss and Sidi Harazem are popular still waters; Oulmès is the classic sparkling water. All are widely available.

Do I need a water filter bottle for Morocco?

It is not essential, but it is the best way to save money and cut plastic, especially if you are trekking in the Atlas Mountains.

#Plan the rest of your trip

Water is one of a handful of practical questions worth sorting before you fly. For the others, see our guides to safety in Morocco, tipping, money and currency and what to wear. If you would like a private trip where these details are handled for you, browse our tours or tell us what you have in mind.