Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Mogadishu?
Yes, tap water is drinkable.
Tap Safe includes data from many publicly available sources, including the WHO (World Health Organization), CDC (Center for Disease Control), and user submitted databases, but unfortunately there's not enough data about Mogadishu.
To see user submitted ratings of the water quality for Somalia, see the "User Submitted Ratings" box on this page.
The tap water in Mogadishu, Somalia, is not safe for drinking. Due to the lack of sanitation, water is contaminated, and killers in Somalia. Waterborne diseases are a continuous threat to health. Only 30% of the country have access to clean water. You may boil water to use it for brushing and washing fruits and vegetables.
The danger of contamination raised from the water source to the point of use due to unhygienic practices. An example would be the use of dirty transportation and storage containers and a lack of knowledge.
The water in the country is HARD. The scale of hardness from the sample is 151 – 789 mg/l. Shows water contains a lot of minerals, like calcium and magnesium. Water with hardness higher than 200 mg/l considered inadequate, while water with an excess of 500 mg/l is unacceptable for most domestic purposes.
Source of Water in Mogadishu, Somalia
The primary source of water in Mogadishu, Somalia, is from groundwater. The groundwater is boreholes shallow wells and springs.
Boreholes are the most critical water sources in Somalia, as a bulk has water throughout the year and produces water when other sources dry out. The measurement of most boreholes in the country is in the range of 90m to 250m. Different depths can go to more than 400m.
The improvement of new groundwater sources in Somalia is filled with challenges, core among them having poor water quality. The more significant number of groundwater sources in the country have a saltiness scale above 2,000µS/cm, which is beyond the required standard for drinking water. Most of the shallow wells are also unprotected from pollutants, making them exposed to microbiological and other contamination.
Other links:
- Backpacking in Mogadishu; Not the Smartest Thing I’ve Ever Done
- Discover Mogadishu, Somalia Vacation Travel Guide
The estimated price of bottled water
$0.45 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Mogadishu, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Current Weather in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU WEATHERSome of the Convenience Stores in Mogadishu
- XNERO Qubaisi
- Soomow
- KAAMIL SUPERMARKET
- Alceyn Shop and Pharmacy
- Midnimo Supermarket
- Shakataa Supermarket
- Rajab Supermarket and Pharmacy
- Anteeno Supermarket And Food Store
- Macruuf
Estimated Price of Bottled Water
| Volume | SOS | USD | EUR | GBP |
| 1.5-liter | 260.80 | $0.45 | €0.41 | £0.35 |