Yes! The tap water is safe to drink.
Tap water in Palermo, Italy is considered safe to drink by European Union and Italian national standards.
However, locals often prefer bottled water due to the taste and historic infrastructure concerns.
It's still recommended to take usual precautions: let the water run, avoid drinking from unknown sources, and use good judgment.
Italy is ranked as number 2 globally with a score of 98.2% in the water quality EPI research conducted by Yale University.
Palermo's tap water primarily comes from surface water sources, including the Lake Piana degli Albanesi and the River Oreto.
A smaller portion comes from groundwater sources, including natural springs and wells.
The water treatment process involves coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection before distribution to the city's tap network.
Yes, Palermo has public drinking fountains providing safe and fresh water, often marked as "acqua potabile" or "bevibile".
These fountains are regularly maintained and monitored to ensure good water quality.
Locals often use these fountains to refill their bottles, a convenient and eco-friendly option for visitors as well.
Here is a map showing all the locations of drinking water spots in Palermo. You can click on each water drop to open the spot directly in Google Maps for directions.