In Spain, tap water is drinkable in virtually the entire country. According to data from the Ministry of Health, over 99% of the supplied water meets European quality standards. However, factors such as taste, hardness, or the presence of chlorine lead many consumers to choose alternatives such as bottled water or domestic filtration systems.
Below, we explain how water quality varies by region, which elements influence its taste, and how you can improve it if you are not satisfied.
Is tap water safe in Spain?
Yes. Tap water in Spain is considered safe for human consumption. It complies with the European Drinking Water Directive and is subject to regular checks by local health authorities and the Ministry of Health.
In addition, monitoring systems such as SINAC (National Drinking Water Information System) publish periodic analyses and allow you to check water quality by municipality.
Why is there distrust towards tap water?
Although tap water is safe today, public perception has been shaped by previous decades. Before 1986, when Spain joined the EU, many supply infrastructures had not yet been modernised. Some coastal areas lacked advanced filtration systems, which led to mistrust.
This historical context, combined with the growth of tourism and the rise of bottled water, reinforced the idea that tap water was not advisable, especially in coastal areas.
How has water quality improved in Spain?
Between 1986 and 2008, Spain received more than €20 billion in European funds to modernise its water infrastructure. Today, the country has one of the most advanced water management systems in the world, both for drinking water and wastewater treatment.
As a result, almost all the water supplied to homes is suitable for consumption, although there can be noticeable differences in taste and hardness.
Areas with the best tap water in Spain
Some regions stand out for offering particularly light, soft and good-tasting water:
Burgos: Considered the best in the country according to OCU studies.
San Sebastián: Excellent water quality with low mineral content.
Madrid: Supplied by the Canal de Isabel II system, with a strong reputation.
León, Oviedo, Bilbao: Other northern cities with soft, pleasant-tasting water.
Areas where tap water tastes worse
Although the water is drinkable, in certain areas its taste may be less pleasant due to factors such as excess chlorine or hardness:
Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante, Murcia: High mineralisation and limescale.
Palma de Mallorca: Historical quality issues, although these have improved.
Ciudad Real: Has recorded trihalomethane levels close to the legal limit.
In these cases, using filters such as EcoPro by Tappwater helps improve taste by removing chlorine, limescale and other substances that affect the water’s organoléptic properties.
How can you find out the quality of water in your area?
You can check the quality of tap water in your locality through the SINAC portal (sinac.mscbs.gob.es), where analyses carried out by water operators in each municipality are published.
There you can find information on the source of the water, chlorine levels, hardness, and other key parameters such as pH, conductivity or nitrate presence.
Who regulates drinking water quality in Spain?
The regulation governing drinking water in Spain is Royal Decree 3/2023, which transposes Directive (EU) 2020/2184. This legislation sets out the sanitary, chemical and microbiological requirements that water for human consumption must meet.
These standards are based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and are reviewed periodically.
How can you test tap water at home?
If you suspect that the water in your home has an unpleasant taste, a strange smell or too much limescale, you can:
Request the official report from your water supplier.
Hire a private laboratory for more detailed analyses.
Use home testing kits to measure chlorine, pH or hardness.
If in doubt, or if you are not happy with the taste, an immediate solution is to install an EcoPro filter, which significantly improves taste and quality without the need for building work.
Conclusion: tap water in Spain is safe, but its taste can be improved
Drinking tap water is a safe, economical and sustainable option in most Spanish households. However, if taste, hardness or chlorine bother you, the best solution is to use a certified activated carbon filter.
EcoPro by Tappwater removes up to 98% of chlorine, limescale, microplastics and other compounds that affect the taste and quality of water, without removing beneficial minerals.
💧 Discover our home filters and start enjoying great-tasting, safe water — without bottles.
