Tap water in Malta: what the water company says, and what I'd do

It’s one of the most practical questions on any trip, and in Malta the answer is less tidy than I’d like. I went looking for an official line saying, plainly, whether visitors can drink the tap water, and what exists is something slightly different. Here’s what the state water company publishes, what nobody says, and what I’d do.

What the water company says

The Water Services Corporation is Malta’s state water company. On its water quality page it explains that it adds very small amounts of chlorine at its treatment works, usually up to 1 milligram per litre, because it is a legal requirement to disinfect the water supply and make sure it’s safe to drink.

That’s as close as I’ve got to an official answer. It isn’t a seal of approval from the tourism authority, and I haven’t found tap water covered in the FCDO’s Malta travel advice. So I’d rather quote it as it stands and let you decide with it in front of you.

Where does the water come from in such a dry country?

Malta gets little rain, around 567 mm a year according to the Meteorological Office, and the WSC has turned to the sea for much of its supply. It runs three reverse osmosis plants, at Pembroke, Ċirkewwa and Għar Lapsi, which produce about 20 of the 34 million cubic metres it distributes each year. The page I read doesn’t break down the rest. It also has a tunnel carrying water from Pembroke to Ta’ Qali.

If you go swimming at Għar Lapsi, you’ll be very close to one of the plants that fill the country’s taps. The shortage goes back a long way, and in the early 17th century the Knights were already bringing water to Valletta along the Wignacourt Aqueduct, whose inspection tower still stands in Santa Venera.

Why does it taste of chlorine, and how do you get rid of it?

The WSC itself admits the water can taste of chlorine or bleach, more so in cold drinks and in the morning and evening. It puts this down to your distance from the treatment works, the water temperature, peak demand and burst mains. Its advice is simple, put a jug of water in the fridge for a few hours before drinking it. It adds a limit I think matters, though, not more than 24 hours, because once the chlorine has gone the water is no longer protected against bacteria.

The WSC also explains what to do after roadworks or maintenance. Milky water is usually air trapped in the pipes and clears from the bottom up if you leave it in a glass. Brown water comes from disturbed sediment and clears if you run the tap for up to three minutes. If it’s still the same after 24 hours, there’s a freephone number, 8007 6400.

What I’d do

With that information, I’d drink tap water in Malta rather than buying bottles every day, though I understand anyone who can’t stand the taste and prefers bottled. If you have a sensitive stomach or are travelling with a baby, no official source covers your situation, and in that case I’d choose bottled without a second thought. For cooking and brushing your teeth, the tap is fine by me.

In summer, water is about health rather than taste. The Meteorological Office gives average August highs of 32 °C, and on excursions without shade you drink far more than you expect. On Comino, for instance, the Ministry for Gozo reminds visitors to bring water, because there are no shops or services apart from seasonal kiosks.

Where to refill your bottle

The only set of public fountains I’ve found with an official source is at Malta Airport, which has three, in baggage reclaim and in the Schengen and non-Schengen departure areas. Beyond that, the sensible option is to refill where you’re staying. If you’ve booked one of the apartments in Malta, the jug in the fridge is the cheapest trick of the holiday.