🇲🇾 City — Malaysia

Can I Drink Tap Water in Penang (George Town)?

Q: What contaminants are in Penang (George Town) tap water?

Monitored contaminants include: Coliform bacteria (localized system/building issues), Nitrate (rural/private supplies), Lead/plumbing metals (older buildings, localized), Turbidity during service interruptions, Residual chlorine/chloramine. Tap water in Penang (George Town) is treated to Malaysia standards, but visitors should use caution. The supply is mainly a mix of surface and groundwater sources with filtration, chlorination, coagulation/flocculation, and water quality can vary by building or neighborhood. Many travelers choose bottled or filtered water for drinking.

Caution

3.6/5

Quick Answer

Tap water in Penang (George Town) is treated but best approached with caution for visitors. Many travelers prefer bottled or filtered water for drinking.

Tap water in Penang (George Town) is treated to Malaysia standards, but visitors should use caution. The supply is mainly a mix of surface and groundwater sources with filtration, chlorination, coagulation/flocculation, and water quality can vary by building or neighborhood. Many travelers choose bottled or filtered water for drinking.

Rankings & Comparisons

Safety Overview

Global rank #102 out of 152

Safety rating 3.6/5

Dataset average 3.8/5

Rank in Malaysia #2 out of 3

Malaysia average 3.5/5

Top Cities in Malaysia

1 🇲🇾
Johor Bahru
3.6/5 Caution
2 🇲🇾
Penang (George Town)
3.6/5 Caution
3 🇲🇾
Kuala Lumpur
3.2/5 Caution

Water Quality Details

Penang (George Town) follows Malaysia’s drinking water regulations, with supply primarily from a mix of surface and groundwater sources treated by filtration, chlorination, coagulation/flocculation. While treatment is in place, quality can vary at the building level due to storage tanks or older plumbing, and this can affect taste and consistency. Visitors are generally advised to use bottled or properly filtered water for drinking and to be cautious with ice. If you need to use tap water, boiling for at least one minute provides an extra safety margin.

Water sourceMixed sources

TreatmentFiltration, Chlorination, Flocculation

HardnessModerate

TDS240 ppm

Taste rating3/5

Taste notesquality can vary by municipality and building · chlorine or mineral taste may be noticeable · service interruptions can affect clarity or taste

Contaminant Data

Contaminant	Measured	Limit	Status
Coliform bacteria (localized system/building issues)	—	0 WHO	Exceeds
Nitrate (rural/private supplies)	—	50 mg/L WHO	Exceeds
Lead/plumbing metals (older buildings, localized)	—	0.01 mg/L WHO	Exceeds
Turbidity during service interruptions	—	—	Exceeds
Residual chlorine/chloramine	—	—	OK

Practical Tips

🧊 Avoid ice from tap 🪧 Use bottled for brushing 🍽 Avoid restaurant tap water 🔥 Boiling effective 💧 Filter recommended

Use sealed bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth
Avoid ice unless you know it was made with purified water
Boil tap water for 1 minute if bottled water is unavailable
Consider a bottle filter or UV purifier for day trips
Stick to cooked foods from reputable vendors
Ask restaurants if their water is filtered or treated

Bottled water~$0.9 USD (Everywhere)

Recommended filtersActivated Carbon, Bottle Filter, Reverse Osmosis

Traveler Advice

Risk level: Moderate Diarrhea risk: Moderate

In Penang (George Town), it’s best to use bottled or filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth, especially during short visits. Ice may be unsafe unless made with purified water. If you’re staying longer, consider a reliable filter or UV purifier.

Tap-water reliability can vary within Malaysia, so travelers usually reduce risk by using bottled or properly filtered water when conditions are uncertain.