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Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it
Plus, the foods to avoid at the all inclusive buffet THIRST TRAP All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FRENCH region recently banned residents from drinking tap water over chemicals found in the water. Alsace in eastern France sent 60,000 residents a letter back in April telling them that their water was contaminated and as a result from May, at risk groups should not drink tap water. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A French region recently banned residents from drinking tap water due to chemicals found in the water - but it has revealed a wider water issue across Europe Credit: Getty The chemicals found were PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals,' which originated from the Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse. Whilst most won't know the name of these chemicals, we use them in our everyday lives for things like non-stick frying pans, waterproof jackets, and food packaging. But there has been some evidence that PFAS can cause some cancers, kidney disease, high cholesterol, fertility issues, birth defects, and issues with the immune system. PFAS can be found in all water - so technically no where is safe from these forever chemicals. The Guardian's Phoebe Weston recently revealed that said: "There's more than 23,000 sites across Europe contaminated with PFAS, and in more than 2,300 of those - the levels were considered hazardous." You can check the Forever Pollution Map to see where contaminated sites are. But PFAS aren't the only thing that can make water unsafe to drink - for tap water to be deemed drinkable, it must be cleaned of all germs, pollutants and parasites that can cause us to become unwell. Here are the countries in Europe where tap water is considered safe and unsafe to drink... Places where tap water IS safe in Europe Vivid Maps found that only 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority in Europe. Typically, tap water is safe to drink in the following European destinations: Andorra Austria Belgium Czech Republic Croatia Denmark Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece - the mainland Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland UK Vatican City 5 Alsace in eastern France sent 60,000 residents a letter back in April telling them that their water was contaminated Credit: Getty Places in Europe where it is sometimes safe There are a few countries only with certain areas it is safe to drink in. In Greece, the mainland is generally safe to drink tap water from. However, according to Hidropoliti Kakademi, visitors should avoid drinking water on the islands as: "it's rarely safe there - if in doubt, ask a local". Meanwhile, in Georgia, in urban areas like Tbilisi, tap water is typically safe to drink but in rural areas, travellers are advised to drink bottled water. Also in Hungary, the tap water is typically safe to drink in Budapest but it should be avoid outside of the country's major cities. Sites are more mixed about Cyprus though, with some saying tap water isn't safe to drink at all such as All Clear Travel Insurance and others saying it is absolutely safe, such as Visit Cyprus. If you are travelling to Cyprus, it is best to check local reports to find out whether the tap water is safe to consume. In Estonia, tap water is clean and safe to consume in Tallinn, according to Visit Tallinn. The site adds: "From spring until autumn, public drinking water taps can be used in various locations around the city." 5 There are some countries with areas that are safe, but other areas that are not Credit: PA Places where tap water ISN'T safe in Europe There are some destinations in Europe where it isn't safe to drink tap water, according to to multiple sources. The countries where visitors are recommended to drink bottled water include: Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Kazakhstan Kosovo Lithuania Moldova Montenegro Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Turkey Ukraine 5 The chemicals found were PFAS - also known as 'forever chemicals' Credit: Reuters What should you do when travelling? If you are going on holiday and are worried about the levels of PFAS in the water or how clean the water is around where you are staying, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, it is worth checking local reports to see if your area has high levels of PFAS in the water or if the water has recently been contaminated. Alternatively, you can purchase bottled water. Water cleanliness can change over time, with some countries having cleaner water in some areas compared to others - so it is important to always check the tap water at your destination ahead of travelling. If you do fall ill when travelling and suspect it is from tap water, then stop drinking the tap water and opt for bottled or purified water. It is important to stay hydrated, so avoid alcohol and caffeine too. Keep and eye on your symptoms - such as chills, aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea - and if they worse, seek medical attention. Travellers have also been warned to never visit a hotel buffet during 'quiet' times on all-inclusive holidays. Plus, eight travel insurance mistakes to avoid that could cost thousands – including tricks to buying cover and what to pay. Foods to avoid at the all-inclusive buffet Cooked rice and pasta can also cause issues – starchy foods left at room temperature are ideal for bacteria growth. Cold meats and soft cheeses pose a risk if they are not properly chilled, then they're a common cause of illness. If sauces and gravies in hot trays are not kept piping hot, they can become bacterial breeding grounds. Any creamy desserts like custard tarts or tiramisu can spoil quickly in heat.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it
A FRENCH region recently banned residents from drinking tap water over chemicals found in the water. Alsace in eastern France sent 60,000 residents a letter back in April telling them that their water was contaminated and as a result from May, at risk groups should not drink tap water. 5 The chemicals found were PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals,' which originated from the Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse. Whilst most won't know the name of these chemicals, we use them in our everyday lives for things like non-stick frying pans, waterproof jackets, and food packaging. But there has been some evidence that PFAS can cause some cancers, kidney disease, high cholesterol, fertility issues, birth defects, and issues with the immune system. PFAS can be found in all water - so technically no where is safe from these forever chemicals. The Guardian 's Phoebe Weston recently revealed that said: "There's more than 23,000 sites across Europe contaminated with PFAS, and in more than 2,300 of those - the levels were considered hazardous." You can check the Forever Pollution Map to see where contaminated sites are. But PFAS aren't the only thing that can make water unsafe to drink - for tap water to be deemed drinkable, it must be cleaned of all germs, pollutants and parasites that can cause us to become unwell. Here are the countries in Europe where tap water is considered safe and unsafe to drink... Places where tap water IS safe in Europe Vivid Maps found that only 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority in Europe. Typically, tap water is safe to drink in the following European destinations: Andorra Austria Belgium Czech Republic Croatia Denmark Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece - the mainland Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland UK Vatican City 5 Places in Europe where it is sometimes safe There are a few countries only with certain areas it is safe to drink in. In Greece, the mainland is generally safe to drink tap water from. However, according to Hidropoliti Kakademi, visitors should avoid drinking water on the islands as: "it's rarely safe there - if in doubt, ask a local". Meanwhile, in Georgia, in urban areas like Tbilisi, tap water is typically safe to drink but in rural areas, travellers are advised to drink bottled water. Also in Hungary, the tap water is typically safe to drink in Budapest but it should be avoid outside of the country's major cities. Sites are more mixed about Cyprus though, with some saying tap water isn't safe to drink at all such as All Clear Travel Insuranc e and others saying it is absolutely safe, such as Visit Cyprus. If you are travelling to Cyprus, it is best to check local reports to find out whether the tap water is safe to consume. In Estonia, tap water is clean and safe to consume in Tallinn, according to Visit Tallinn. The site adds: "From spring until autumn, public drinking water taps can be used in various locations around the city." 5 Places where tap water ISN'T safe in Europe There are some destinations in Europe where it isn't safe to drink tap water, according to to multiple sources. The countries where visitors are recommended to drink bottled water include: Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Kazakhstan Kosovo Lithuania Moldova Montenegro Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Turkey Ukraine 5 What should you do when travelling? If you are going on holiday and are worried about the levels of PFAS in the water or how clean the water is around where you are staying, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, it is worth checking local reports to see if your area has high levels of PFAS in the water or if the water has recently been contaminated. Alternatively, you can purchase bottled water. Water cleanliness can change over time, with some countries having cleaner water in some areas compared to others - so it is important to always check the tap water at your destination ahead of travelling. If you do fall ill when travelling and suspect it is from tap water, then stop drinking the tap water and opt for bottled or purified water. It is important to stay hydrated, so avoid alcohol and caffeine too. Keep and eye on your symptoms - such as chills, aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea - and if they worse, seek medical attention. Travellers have also been warned to on all-inclusive holidays. Plus, eight travel insurance mistakes to avoid that could cost thousands – including tricks to buying cover and what to pay. Cooked rice and pasta can also cause issues – starchy foods left at room temperature are ideal for bacteria growth. Cold meats and soft cheeses pose a risk if they are not properly chilled, then they're a common cause of illness. If sauces and gravies in hot trays are not kept piping hot, they can become bacterial breeding grounds. Any creamy desserts like custard tarts or tiramisu can spoil quickly in heat. 5
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours
Sandra Wiedemann was watching TV on a Saturday night when she first saw the news that the water where she lived was contaminated. Then, three days later – right at the end of April – it was made official. Sandra and 60,000 other residents of Alsace, eastern France, were told by the local government that it had found dangerously high levels of PFAs – or 'forever chemicals' – in the water. Those in high-risk groups – under-twos, immunocompromised people, pregnant women – were advised not to drink water from the taps for the rest of year. The Guardian's biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston heads to Alsace to speak to residents and activists, and goes to the local spot that has caused the contamination. As she tells Helen Pidd, it's a story that is unlikely to be limited to Alsace. For PFAs are used on an industrial scale right around the world. Valued because they just don't break down, they are used in products from non-stick frying pans to waterproof jackets. But the same quality means they are now found right across the environment too – from in the water and earth beneath our feet to inside even our blood. So, if the water in Alsace has been deemed too dangerous to drink, what does it mean for the rest of the world?
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours
Sandra Wiedemann was watching TV on a Saturday night when she first saw the news that the water where she lived was contaminated. Then, three days later – right at the end of April – it was made official. Sandra and 60,000 other residents of Alsace, eastern France, were told by the local government that it had found dangerously high levels of PFAs – or 'forever chemicals' – in the water. Those in high-risk groups – under-twos, immunocompromised people, pregnant women – were advised not to drink water from the taps for the rest of year. The Guardian's biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston heads to Alsace to speak to residents and activists, and goes to the local spot that has caused the contamination. As she tells Helen Pidd, it's a story that is unlikely to be limited to Alsace. For PFAs are used on an industrial scale right around the world. Valued because they just don't break down, they are used in products from non-stick frying pans to waterproof jackets. But the same quality means they are now found right across the environment too – from in the water and earth beneath our feet to inside even our blood. So, if the water in Alsace has been deemed too dangerous to drink, what does it mean for the rest of the world?
