Can you drink the tap water in Jamaica? Yes, a resounding yes! I will explain in detail below. I will talk about the sources and the quality assurance that is associated with it.
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By the way, did you know that without food you can live for about three weeks but you would certainly die after three or four days without water? This is understandable since water is more than half the weight of your body. What’s your body doing with all the water you drink? Good question. The body uses water from all cells, organs, and tissues to help normalize temperature and maintain other biological functions. As the body loses water through respiration, perspiration, and digestion, it is essential to rehydrate by drinking water and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water required depends on a variety of factors, including gender, climate, physical activity, and well-being. The quality of your water is of vital importance because this commodity is the most essential. No need to drink water that makes you sick.
Water sources in Jamaica
Traditionally, rural Jamaicans get water from gathering it from the roof of the typical dwelling house and storing the valuable liquid in concrete tanks, petroleum fossil oil drums, giant plastic/metal containers, and other additional inventive alternatives. There are also various springs and rivers that serve entire communities. The more formal sources of water are the two existing dams of Mona and Hermitage, the treatment plants of the National Water Commission (NWC), the catchment reservoirs of the parish councils and the wells strategically located in Jamaica.
In the purpose of staying hydrated, modern man uses petroleum-derived products such as plastic bottles to transport and store water that will be used in the future. Many Jamaicans will only drink water from bottled sources. They never mind that little or no research has been done on the actual sources of the water. Some even think that spring water is purified water.
The irresponsible methods of disposing of these bottles today threaten the environment to the point that many of these containers of water end up in our landfills, our sewers, our rivers, our forests, and our beaches. They slowly destroy the environment by releasing their chemicals.
Can you drink tap water in Jamaica?
Can you drink tap water in Jamaica? Short answer – Yes. Tap water is often healthier for you!
Jamaican water management protocols require that the tap water is tested frequently for the presence of microorganisms such as E.coli and Cryptosporidium and other harmful contaminants.
So yes, in Jamaica, you can stick your glass under a tap, fill it and empty it without worry.
I think you may already know this, but it is worth repeating it here; bottled water is often simply treated tap water, camouflaged by fanciful labels and promoted by celebrities. Bottled water manufacturers are not required to disclose the source of bottled water unless it is mineral or spring water. Therefore, this expensive bottle of water could be the same as the one you might have had in your kitchen sink.
Tap water quality assurance in Jamaica
The National Water Commission (NWC) is the water boss in Jamaica; it is a state agency out of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The NWC is responsible for the supply and treatment of tap water in Jamaica. In order to ensure the safety of the water, it’s submitted to state-of-the-art treatment processes that will make it potable. When untreated water is collected from various and many sources like rivers or streams, or from underground water reservoirs, it is then introduced through piping systems and transported to treatment plants. At the treatment plant, equipment and chemicals ensure that the water is treated water and is safely distributed to the population.
Benefits related to drinking tap water
Water is essential for your health and that of your child, because it maintains normal body temperature, helps your body to get rid of waste and lubricates the joints. Just as an engine needs oil to run, your body needs water. But what is the best water for your body and your smile?
Here are 3 reasons why we want you to drink tap water:
1) You will keep environment safer.
Imagine all the plastic waste and emission for production, transportation and disposal of these plastic bottles will be zero if we all stop using bottled water.
2) Tap water is healthier than other drinking products.
The alternatives to water are usually juices, soft drinks or milk, all of which contain sugar. The consumption of sugar produces an accumulation of acid in the mouth, which breaks down the enamel, thus facilitating the formation of cavities and the deterioration of teeth. Too much sugar can also lead to obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Replacing sugary drinks with tap water will help you maintain a healthy mouth and body.
3) Tap water can save you money.
Drinking tap water rather than bottled drinks can save you money on your grocery budget right up to the rendezvous on the dentist’s chair. Because it is fluoridated, tap water protects your family from tooth decay, which can save you more expenses, such as filling cavities, in the future. On a large scale, it has been shown that community water fluoridation is worth the investment, resulting in savings.
However, caution is required when consuming artificial alkaline water, which probably contains fewer minerals necessary for health than its high pH, one would think. Overconsumption can leave you in the absence of the same minerals you are looking for.
Conclusion
The environmental conditions in Jamaica make it possible to drink potable water and prepare food with it. Although Jamaica is considered the Third country in the world, its tap water meets the quality standards for drinking water and is safe to drink. In Jamaica, water is readily available when needed and, thanks to Jamaica’s water sources from many rivers, Jamaica’s water is free from contamination and safe to drink. Many Jamaican households have running water on their premises, and those who do not have it, fetch water from nearby rivers, or they find the tap location in their area, where they can fetch water.
For tourists, all hotels are equipped with adequate drinking water for food processing and the preparation of many exotic drinks. However, if you still have doubts and want to drink bottled water, your driver can stop on the way between Montego Bay airport and your hotel, and you can buy water from a grocery store or supermarket.