Antisocial Tourist

No one wants to get sick on vacation. After experiencing a stomach illness in a foreign country a few years ago (yes, both of us), likely from the melted ice in some cocktails we ordered, we take the safety of drinking water very seriously.

When traveling, we often brush our teeth with bottled water, order drinks without ice, and even avoid teas and coffee despite the water being boiled first. We were much braver before our bout of illness, but now, it’s not worth the risk — ever.

If you’re planning a trip to the incredible island of Aruba and you want to know if the drinking water is safe, you’re in the right place. We’ve traveled to Aruba eight times in the past few years, and we plan to return again in just a few months. We’re in love with the island and want to share everything we can about it with our readers.

So, can you drink the water in Aruba? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know.

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Can You Drink the Water in Aruba?

Yes, you can drink the water in Aruba! In fact, it’s so pure and tastes so good, that you’d be crazy not to drink it. Seriously, it will be the best water you’ve ever had in your life.

We’ve traveled all over the world, so we know that drinking water in other countries is often questionable. But in Aruba, there’s no question about it. Their water actually exceeds the highest quality standards possible set by the World Health Organization.

It’s the cleanest and tastiest tap water in all of the Caribbean, and they’ve consistently ranked as having some of the best-tasting water on the planet by multiple sources.

What Should You Know About Drinking the Tap Water in Aruba?

There is one important thing to know about drinking tap water in Aruba — It might not be cold. With the exception of some homes and hotels in the tourist areas, Aruba doesn’t have traditional hot and cold water valves. Their water is heated in above-ground pipes by the sun, so when you turn on the faucet, the temperature of the water will depend on the time of day.

The water is typically hot during the day and cooler during the night. This applies to the water you’ll use for showering, drinking, and brushing your teeth. Because of this, one of our favorite tips for first-time visitors to Aruba is to keep a pitcher of water or some refillable bottles of water in the fridge at all times. This is common practice among locals as well, so most home rentals will have a pitcher available for use.

Where Does Aruba Get Their Drinking Water?

Aruba doesn’t have fresh water, so they purify ocean water through a saltwater desalination plant located right on the island. The desalination plant uses reverse osmosis to remove impurities and salt from the seawater, making it pure and safe to drink. The reverse osmosis process replaced the previous thermal desalination units in 2010. Aruba has recently introduced a new sustainability fee that will be used to upgrade and expand facilities like this on the island.

The plant is located next to De Palm Island Ferry Terminal, in the island’s industrial area. Aruba is a small island, so you may see an essential facility from time to time. Aruba’s old oil refinery is the most notable eyesore since it can be seen from Baby Beach. But for the most part, the placement of these facilities will go unnoticed.

The plant is operated by WEB (Water en Energie Bedrijf), which has been in charge of Aruba’s water and power for more than 70 years. One of the more unique things to do in Aruba is to take a guided tour of this water plant. To arrange a tour, you can call WEB at +297 582 4700. Tours are free and last a little over an hour.

How Clean is Aruba Tap Water?

Aruba’s drinking water actually exceeds the highest quality standards possible set by the World Health Organization. The reverse osmosis process that occurs in Aruba’s saltwater desalination plant converts seawater into freshwater by removing impurities and contaminants. The end result is pure and delicious water that is safe to drink.

There’s truly no need to buy bottled water in Aruba (although you likely will from time to time for convenience). You can bring a refillable bottle and fill it up straight from the tap. But as we mentioned earlier, the water isn’t always cold from the tap, so you may want to keep a pitcher in the fridge, or bring a few refillable bottles so you can rotate them and always have cold water.

How Much Does Bottled Water Cost in Aruba?

You can find bottled water throughout Aruba, just like you can in most other parts of the world. Many people still prefer bottled water, and its convenience will keep it on the shelves for the foreseeable future. The cost of bottled water in Aruba is very reasonable. Depending on where you purchase it from, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1 to $3.

We usually end up buying a few bottles of water from the store just to keep a good rotation going in the fridge, so we always have cold water. But even if you plan to buy bottled water for the duration of your trip, just do us a favor and take one sip of the tap water. It tastes phenomenal and drinking it is part of the island experience!

Do Restaurants in Aruba Serve Tap Water?

All drinking water used in homes and restaurants in Aruba comes from the tap and is perfectly safe to drink. Most restaurants around the island will serve cold tap water as soon as you sit down at a table, often with ice. You don’t need to worry about ice or mixed drinks either, as the ice is made with the same water. Enjoy all the iced and blended drinks that you want!

One thing you won’t find around the island is drinking fountains. There are a few, but they are sparse. If you run out of water during the day, you may end up purchasing a bottle from a store after all. Water is sold in all grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations.

Which Caribbean Island Has the Best Drinking Water?

So many factors go into what makes someone’s drinking water “the best” that it’s not really possible to say which Caribbean island has the best drinking water. Some of the islands that do stand out among the rest include Aruba (of course), its neighbors, Curacao and Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, and the British Virgin Islands.

Each island has a way of purifying its own water. The Cayman Islands uses a combination of rainwater, groundwater, and desalination plants. Barbados uses underground aquifers. Many of the other islands use a reverse osmosis filtration system similar to Aruba’s.

We like to think Aruba’s water is superior to the other islands though, even if we are a little biased!

Aruba Resources

Need a place to stay? Head here!
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Interested in fast-tracking the airport? Look here!
Considering a car rental? Click here!
Want to book an airport transfer? Book it here!
Looking for Aruba’s entry requirements? Here you go!
Visiting from another country? Stay Connected!

Thank you for reading our post! We hope it helps you plan the perfect trip! Check out our other guides here and follow us on Instagram (@AntisocialTourist) or on Facebook to see our latest adventures!