Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Montevideo?
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 Montevideo.
To see user submitted ratings of the water quality for Uruguay, see the "User Submitted Ratings" box on this page.
Montevideo, Uruguay tap water is perfectly safe and healthy. Overall the water quality in Uruguay is excellent. They meet all water quality standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). You can refill your plastic bottle directly from the tap. Nearly all localities in Uruguay are getting disinfected water continuously.
Seventy percent treated wastewater obtained by the national utility. Given these accomplishments, the government’s priority is to enhance the effectiveness of services and to extend access to sewerage. The Municipality of Montevideo was in charge of sanitation. Around 98 percent of the country’s population has access to potable water. However, only about 34 percent of the population has a connection to sanitation systems.
The growing agricultural industry is slowly affecting water quality. In addition to that, uncontrolled groundwater used can lead to pollution or overexploitation of aquifers. It is causing seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers and bacterial contamination.
Source of Water in Montevideo, Uruguay
Surface water and groundwater are both the primary source of water in Montevideo, Uruguay. Specifically, only the Santa Lucia river doesn’t share water in other countries like Brazil and Argentina. There is a total of six watersheds found in Uruguay. Namely, Uruguay River, Plata River, Atlantic, Merin Lake, Negro River, and Santa Lucía River.
Surface water is the leading supplier of water for irrigation by about 87%, domestic around 11%, and industrial use is only 2%. Watering of land is the primary water user by watershed, except for the Santa Lucia River, which uses for domestic and the Plata River for industrial use.
Groundwater sources supply water to some little urban villages and small and medium scale irrigation systems in the inside.
Other links:
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.17 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 Montevideo, 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 Montevideo
MONTEVIDEO WEATHERSome of the Local Convenience Stores in Montevideo
- Frog 6
- KinKo 19
- Frigo Rey
- Expres 7
- Kinko
- Three Girls II
- Minimarket Las Torres
- Mandolina
- Mariacocina
- GalerÃa De London Mini Express
- Gourmet Boutique Iberpark
- Aryes, MAM
- Tienda 360 Trouville
- Devoto Express
Estimated Price of Bottled Water
| Volume | UYU | USD | EUR | GBP |
| 1.5-liter | $U44.12 | $1.18 | €1.06 | £0.90 |