Can I Drink Tap Water in Phnom Penh?
Unsafe
Quick Answer
Do not drink tap water in Phnom Penh. Use bottled or properly purified water for all drinking and brushing teeth.
Phnom Penh’s tap water is not recommended for drinking. While treatment exists, contamination risks and distribution variability mean visitors should rely on bottled or properly purified water for all consumption.
Rankings & Comparisons
Safety Overview
Global rank
#128 out of 152
Safety rating
2.0/5
Dataset average
3.8/5
Rank in Cambodia
#1 out of 2
Cambodia average
2.0/5
Top Cities in Cambodia
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1
🇰🇭
Phnom PenhUnsafe
- 2 🇰🇭 Unsafe
Water Quality Details
Tap water in Phnom Penh is treated, but local conditions and distribution issues mean it is not considered safe for visitors to drink. Risk levels are higher than typical international standards, and water quality can vary widely by neighborhood and building infrastructure.
Use sealed bottled water or properly treated water for all drinking, brushing teeth, and ice. For longer stays, a certified RO or UV filtration system is recommended.
Water sourceSurface water
TreatmentChlorination, Filtration
HardnessModerate
TDS220 ppm
Taste rating2/5
Taste notesquality varies widely · chlorine and sediment may be noticeable · local storage can affect taste
Contaminant Data
Practical Tips
🧊 Avoid ice from tap
🪧 Use bottled for brushing
🍽 Avoid restaurant tap water
🔥 Boiling effective
💧 Filter recommended
- Do not drink tap water; use sealed bottled or properly purified water
- Avoid ice and drinks made with tap water
- Brush teeth with bottled or filtered water
- Use a certified filter (RO/UV) for longer stays
- Avoid raw foods washed with tap water
- Boil water for at least 1 minute if you must use tap water
Bottled water~$0.5 USD (Everywhere)
Recommended filtersActivated Carbon, Ceramic, Bottle Filter, Reverse Osmosis
Traveler Advice
Risk level: High
Diarrhea risk: High
Phnom Penh tap water is not safe for drinking. Use bottled or properly purified water for all consumption and avoid ice unless you know it was made with purified water. Be cautious with raw foods washed in tap water.
Travelers should treat Cambodia tap water as unsafe by default and use bottled or properly treated water consistently.
- Use sealed bottled water or properly boiled/filtered water for drinking
- Use bottled water for brushing teeth
- Avoid ice unless purified water is confirmed
- Avoid raw produce washed with tap water
- Carry oral rehydration salts and backup purification
Health Warnings
⚠ Health Warnings
- Drinking tap water can cause traveler’s diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness
- Avoid ice and raw foods washed with tap water
- Use bottled or properly purified water for all consumption
Sources & References
Government
Official Report
Data confidence: Low
Last updated: 2026-02-24
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