Water quality, particularly the quality of drinking water, is arguably the most essential requirement for the survival of not only mankind, but all terrestrial life on Earth. Despite its importance, water quality is not guaranteed and varies considerably throughout the world's countries, influenced by natural and man-made factors.
Measuring the safety of the drinking water in each area of a country is vitally important, as it helps that country determine where to focus its efforts in order to ensure the long-term health of its citizens and the sustainability of its water supply.
How is the safety of drinking water determined?
Localized testing is the most common method of determining the safety of a region's drinking water. In developed countries, testing may be conducted by the water utilities or by various local, state, or federal agencies. In developing and least-developed countries, testing may be much less consistent and reliable.
One of the most widely respected aggregators of water quality data is Yale University's Environmental Performance Index, which tracks 40 performance indicators—including "Sanitation & Drinking Water"—in order to pinpoint the most environmentally friendly countries in the world. Additional performance indicators tracked by the EPI include environmental health, climate change mitigation, air quality, waste management, biodiversity, fishery populations, and more.
How is water quality rated?
The EPI measures water quality in terms of "age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years lost per 100,000 persons (DALY rate) due to exposure to unsafe drinking water" (EPI). According to the DALY scale, a score of 100 indicates countries with the purest and least-contaminated water and a score of 0 indicates the 5% of countries with the most contaminated water on the planet.
Top 10 Countries with the Best Water Quality in the World (2022 DALY score):
10 Countries with the Worst Water Quality in the World (2022 DALY score):
FAQs
Finland is uniquely rich in surface waters, and ranks amongst the best in the world for its tap water quality. It is not only completely safe but a pleasure to drink, with legislation ensuring that water does not contain substances or organisms that could cause any ill-health.
Who has the cleanest tap water in the US? ›
- Hawaii. #1 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Tennessee. #2 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Alabama. #3 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- South Carolina. #4 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Massachusetts. #5 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Kentucky. #6 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Georgia. #7 in Drinking Water Quality. ...
- Florida. #8 in Drinking Water Quality.
Where is the cleanest water in the world? ›
Which Countries Have the Purest Drinking Water?
- Iceland. The fresh water in Iceland is among the purest drinking water on Earth. ...
- Greenland. Another country with pure drinking water is Greenland. ...
- Switzerland. High-quality water from Switzerland is found underground in natural springs. ...
- Sweden. ...
- Denmark. ...
- Finland.
Is US tap water safe to drink? ›
The United States has one of the safest and most reliable drinking water systems in the world. Every year, millions of people living in the United States get their tap water from a public community water system. The drinking water that is supplied to our homes comes from either a surface water or ground water source.
Which country has the best tap water in 2024? ›
World Water Day 2024: 10 Countries With The Cleanest Water In The...
- Finland. A nation renowned for its pristine natural environment and rigorous water treatment standards. ...
- Iceland. ...
- Switzerland. ...
- Austria. ...
- Norway. ...
- The Netherlands. ...
- Malta. ...
- Ireland.
Which country has the cleanest ocean water? ›
1. The Maldives. The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, have around 1,190 islands and sandbanks. A lagoon with crystal clear water encircles all the islands, which are protected by a reef structure that is home to an array of underwater life.
Where in America has the worst tap water? ›
Alabama ranked as the state with the worst tap water in the country. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, an estimated 2.1 million Alabamians depend on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Alabama ranked as the state with the worst tap water, according to J.D. Power.
Which US city has the cleanest water? ›
City Rankings
OVERALL RANK | City | Overall Score |
---|
1 | Cary, NC | 88.339 |
2 | Winston-Salem, NC | 85.504 |
3 | Yonkers, NY | 84.902 |
4 | Bellevue, WA | 84.757 |
73 more rowsMay 13, 2021
Which US state has the best water? ›
In no particular order, we proudly present the states with some of the best tap water nationwide and perhaps in the world:
- Oregon. Oregon is considered a great state to live in. ...
- Kansas. ...
- Minnesota. ...
- Massachusetts. ...
- South Dakota. ...
- Missouri. ...
- Connecticut. ...
- Rhode Island.
Which country has the most unclean water? ›
30 Countries with the Worst Drinking Water Supply
- Kiribati. EPI Score: 15.60. ...
- Comoros. EPI Score: 15.40. ...
- Pakistan. EPI Score: 15.30. ...
- Republic of the Congo. EPI Score: 14.50. ...
- Solomon Islands. EPI Score: 14.40. ...
- Haiti. EPI Score: 13.90. ...
- Kenya. EPI Score: 13.70. ...
- Mauritania. EPI Score: 13.60.
Since the matter of clean drinking water is becoming more and more serious question, countries with the most uncontaminated natural springs and water supplies can be considered fortunate ones. According to some scientific researches, Chilehas one of the purest natural water in the world.
Which country has the best filtered water? ›
1. Switzerland: With strict treatment standards and superior natural resources, Switzerland ranks number one for best EPI. In fact, Swiss tap water is as pure as its bottled water – but 500 times cheaper.
Can Brits drink USA tap water? ›
That depends upon what part of “America” you visit. With few exceptions, most North American tap water in the USA and Canada is safe to drink. In Mexico, Central and South America, not so much.
What country has the best drinking water? ›
10 Countries with the Purest Drinkable Tap Water
- Iceland. Home of the Northern Lights and the Icelandic Viking Sagas, Iceland also has some of the purest tap water in the world. ...
- Switzerland and Austria. ...
- Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. ...
- Australia and New Zealand. ...
- Canada. ...
- Estonia and Lithuania.
Why do Americans drink bottled water? ›
Americans spend billions of dollars every year on commercially bottled water. People choose bottled water for a variety of reasons including taste, convenience, as a substitute for other beverages, or because of perceived health benefits.
What is the #1 water in the world? ›
Over 97 percent of the earth's water is found in the oceans as salt water. Two percent of the earth's water is stored as fresh water in glaciers, ice caps, and snowy mountain ranges.
Which country is no 1 in water resources? ›
Which country has the most fresh water resources? Brazil has highest freshwater resources in the world which is accounts for approximately 12% of the world's freshwater resources.
What is the healthiest water in the world? ›
Spring water is considered the healthiest water to drink because it contains essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. As the name implies, the water comes from a spring or an underground source. It is the purest form of water since it is natural and organic without any treatment.
What is the top 5 best drinking water? ›
The Top 5 Best Tasting Waters
- Smart Water. Smart Water is bottled still water that is further enriched with electrolytes. ...
- Mountain Valley. “Back to the source,” says the Mountain Valley's motto, and when you take a sip from this bottled water you'd know what they mean. ...
- Fiji. ...
- Voss. ...
- Evian.