🇳🇴 City — Norway Population: 1,082,575

Can I Drink Tap Water in Oslo?

Safe
4.9/5
Quick Answer
Tap water in Oslo is safe to drink and regulated under Norway’s national drinking water standards.
Oslo’s tap water is generally safe to drink under Norway standards. The supply is mainly a mix of surface and groundwater sources and is treated with filtration, chlorination, UV treatment. Most visitors can drink from the tap; bottled water is optional for taste.
Rankings & Comparisons
Safety Overview
Global rank #12 out of 152
Safety rating 4.9/5
Dataset average 3.8/5
Rank in Norway #1 out of 1
Norway average 4.9/5
Top Cities in Norway
  1. 1 🇳🇴
    Oslo
    4.9/5 Safe
Water Quality Details
Oslo’s drinking water is supplied under Norway’s national standards and monitored by local utilities and health authorities. The system draws primarily from a mix of surface and groundwater sources and uses filtration, chlorination, UV treatment before distribution through the city network. Taste and mineral content can vary by neighborhood and building age, and the water is typically moderate with an estimated TDS around 190 mg/L. If you notice a chlorine or mineral taste, chilling the water or using an activated carbon filter can improve flavor without affecting safety.
Water sourceMixed sources
TreatmentFiltration, Chlorination, UV Treatment
HardnessModerate
TDS190 ppm
Taste rating4/5
Taste notesgenerally good municipal water quality · regional mineral variation is possible · older building plumbing can affect taste
Contaminant Data
Contaminant Measured Limit Status
Lead (old premise plumbing, localized) — 0.01 mg/L
WHO
 OK
Disinfection by-products (monitored) — — OK
Residual chlorine/chloramine — — OK
Hardness/mineral content (regional variation) — — OK
Practical Tips
🧊 Ice is safe 🪧 Brushing teeth safe 🍽 Restaurant water safe 🔥 Boiling not needed 💧 No filter needed
  1. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the city
  2. In older buildings, let the tap run for 10–20 seconds before drinking
  3. Chill tap water to reduce any chlorine taste
  4. Use an activated carbon pitcher if you prefer a milder taste
  5. Carry a refillable bottle to avoid single-use plastics
  6. Ice is generally safe in reputable restaurants and hotels
Bottled water~$1.2 USD (Everywhere)
Traveler Advice
Risk level: Low Diarrhea risk: Low
Oslo tap water is safe for most travelers. You can drink, brush teeth, and use ice in reputable restaurants and hotels. If you have a sensitive stomach or dislike mineral taste, opt for filtered or bottled water.
Most travelers can use tap water in Norway without issues in normal conditions; practical concerns are usually local advisories or older plumbing.
  • Norway tap water is generally safe in normal conditions
  • Check local advisories during rare utility incidents
  • Use only cold tap water for drinking/cooking in older buildings
Sources & References
Official Report
World Bank API - Safely managed drinking water services (% of population) - Norway
Official Report
World Bank API - Basic drinking water services (% of population) - Norway
Official Report
World Bank API - Population, total - Norway
Official Report
WHO - Drinking-water (Fact sheet)
Data confidence: Medium Last updated: 2026-02-24