how bad is the water really?

jennifericous

so whats the deal with the water?
to what extent do you have to avoid the water. i mean what about brushing your teeth, or your face...
in what way does it make you sick? just nacseus....or like dead?
Jenn xx

edwardseco

Try it out. If you die from that draft do not drink any more..

Merchant

You should avoid tap water at all costs. Drink only bottled and brush your teeth with it; dry your cups and plates before you use them; don't slurp in the shower.

Indian tap water has microbes for which you don't have resistance. They won't kill you, but they can make you sick, until you have the ability to deal with them like a local.

Most Indians who have the means drink boiled and filtered tap water, which is okay. Sometimes, the water in big cities is safe, but it's best not to chance it.

crvlvr

As Merchant pointed out, we in the west have weakened immune systems that may not be able to cope immediately with the microbes in the indian tap water. Its not that bad if million sof indians drink it every day. But just to be safe, avoid drinking a glassful or more. Brushing your teeth, washing your face in tap water should not cause any problems. the bottled water is typically filtered using Reverse Osmosis (make sure the label indicates the same). Parts of india, have some of the best tasting water I have ever tasted.

Watson

i always brushed my teeth with bottled tap water and never got the "shits" once, allthough I ate huge amounts of streetside snacks at wallahs... So from personal ecperience- water might be the key factor.

DoDi

When I stayed in homes of local people in Kerala and Tamilnadu. There I noticed that they did not drink tap water, rather they went everyday to water distribution points located along all main roads through the towns where drinking water is available to be picked up in large plastic jugs. The jugs are returned the next day when the people return for a new supply. This is what was used. Tap water was used to rinse the mouth, but it was not swallowed.

My policy is to notice and do what the locals do. I had no problems.

Nick-H

It's not necessarily having weakened immunity, just different. NRIs loose their immunity in as little as a year or two away from India, and you will find that they are some of the most careful people when they return.

My tap water is yellowish: even the look would put you off. Whilst there must be millions of people here who can't afford to buy purified water for drinking I don't know anybody that doesn't.

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ddevadatta

Be wise about water and food cooked with water that you are unaware about. Locals normally boil water and boiled water is of course safe. Always carry with you bottled water and have some extras around. Avoid road stands, real hole in the wall restaurants (though their food can be some of the best). Reputable hotels and restaurants are much safer but there is still no gurantee. Avoid raw foods like chutney's etc.

Above all expect to loose several days in your over-all trip to sickness. Many travellers do not account for this. As we Indians like to call it, "Loose Motions" (diaheria) is to be expected as part of the Indian scene.

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Whatever

Can you use the water to wash contect lenses with?

Nick-H

Very sensible. Damn site easier to spell!

jennifericous

i dont like the shits!!
but i was thinking that it was like really bad like fatal! but the shits i can handle. im still not gonna drink it! but i can ease up a bit on the paranoia

Karma Queen

i wouldn't underestimate the shits jennifer. ok, they may not be fatal (although, correct me if i'm wrong, drinking tap water can in some instances be *extremely* dangerous...), but they're seriously not nice. won't go into specific details, but i was quite ill for a week or 2!

SHIMLA

Jaundice - chiefly caused by drinking contaminated water - is far worse than diarrhoea. Puts one out of action for a prolonged period and even after recovery one has to be on a vegetarian, non-oily, non-fatty, non-spicy diet. A relapse can be fatal.

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Nick-H

diarrhoea (Wow, Shimla: respect! you can spell it! I cut'n'pasted it from your post) not only lays low those of that can't spell it, it kills millions every year. So, indeed, don't underestimate the shits

jennifericous

indeed i wont!
but i just thought maybe there was like something in the water that could kill you instantly. but i will certainly be very careful and make sure replace all fluids lost. i absolutely hate the shits, but i figure they are not as bad as instantaneous death...well maybe death by the shits would be pretty bad!!!
ok well basically i wont drink the water. but i will brush my teeth with it and wash my face with it! lol