Water

[Avril Peters]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but do we need to bring purification tablets to wash salad vegetables etc., or is the tap water clean enough?
3 days to go, hope the rain stops soon!

[David Watkins]

Avril,the water in Tobago is potable,tho' the flavour will vary from district to district.
As for the rain......I leave Thursday,you come Thursday,Avril means start of spring so it looks good for you
David(only three limes left )

[Ronald]

Hi Avril

The water from the tap is OK, but some peoples get problems when drinking the water. It all depends on the persons body, what type of water is the body custom with?
All natural water have some bacteries into it, but not dangerous one. Most bodies can take 2-3 new bacteries at the same time and be well, but if its´too much, the person might feel a little bit sick, even if the water is considered to be clean.

So, some peoples drink the water without any problems, even water directly from a spring or a stream in the forrest, some peoples get sick for a day or two.
Persons custom with drinking water into county areas, into different countries, they don´t have problems with local water in T&T.

But, I´ve seen persons from US get sick for two days when only drinking a half glaas of the natural water from the tap. That persons body couldn´t stand new water and some new, (non-poison) bacteries. Mostly peoples can drink local water in T&T without problems, but some get a little bit sick for 2-3 days, it all depends on the person itself.

You know your body best, you know what you are custom with. If persons from UK, living in the same areas as you do, say it´s OK, it should be ok for you too. However, you can boil the water and put it into the fridge or only using mineral water for drinking, you know your body best.
I have never had any problems with the water in Trinidad or Tobago, mostly peoples doesn´t have problem with the water from the tap. It might not always taste so good, but it´s ok for me and mostly visitors. I´ve even been dring water coming from the cliffs without any problem.

You know your body best.
Ronald

[Chris Runciman]

Dear Avril

We have had no problems in 8 years of staying in Castara! None of our friends or guests at the house have made any comment apart from how good the water tastes and how different it is to the water in the South of the island. If you drink tap water at home then you should be fine there.
Castara water comes from the rainforest up the coast at Bloody Bay. We keep some cool in the fridge there is nothing like it.
The island bottled water tastes like, well, bottled water...............
Behind Cascreole there is a water bottling plant using rainforest water. Ask Debbie or Iper Taylor for water in their supermarket on the beach.
The ice cubes are clear !! That tells you something.
You know your body best but purification tablets?
I don't think so.

[Lisa Keith]

Hiya Chris,

I understand what you're saying about the water, and I know it's clean, but despite living here for nearly six years, if I drink it... I'm rough for a few days!! I know there's nothing major in it, but I just have one of 'those' stomachs, I guess. My suggestion would be that if anyone is in ANY doubt... don't drink it. Better safe than sorry. Your holiday is top precious to spend it feeling less than 100%. I do agree about bottled water though, it does taste bottled... I just drink so much tea that it makes sense to use the water I've already boiled and store it in the 'fridge for the rest of my family to drink!

Lisa.

[Dr Stefan Rustscheff]

As a doctor I would repeat my advice NOT to drink the tap water. It is easy enough to attract traveller´s tummy anyway for lots of people and especially if You need to consumeantacids which lower the acidity of the stomach. I agree that the risk varies from person to person but advice that says You are OK if You can drink the tap water at home depends on where home is... Besides, why drink water when there is fruit juice and rum? And bottled champagne?

[David Watkins]

Water is for tea and coffee.For thirst quench light drinks and there are lot to be experienced in Tobago.
I have my own little theory or idea rather that when you take a drink from the tap you run a bit first,however when you brush the teeth,brush under scrub and rinse.
David

[Cindy B]

We just got back last week from our first trip to tobago.
(it was brilliant!). We did not drink the tap water as we have been sick in the past in the likes of the Dominican Republic. We did use it to brush teeth with no problems.
The bottled water was quite boring but did the job keeping rehydrated.
The other thing we drank alot of was...............Carib!!
Had no tummy upsets with the beer!! So if in doubt, drink the local beer!

[David Watkins]

And Johnny Walker White!!!!!!!

[Andy K]

I came to this country in 1997 and have since consumed tap water without getting sick.
Numerous people from around the globe including small children were my guests and NOBODY ever
got problems from drinking tap water.
Very rare, there may be a warning issued by the water and sewerage authority (WASA) not to drink
tap water in certain areas because of a defect in the distribution system. If you happen to hear this... well you know what to do then.

Cheers