Drinking tap water at remote highland homestays
7 Answers from travellers
Do not drink straight tap water anywhere in Sri Lanka. However, homestay hosts know this. If they offer you a jug of water on the dining table, it is almost certainly water they have boiled vigorously and allowed to cool. Boiled water is 100% safe. If you are unsure, politely ask "Is this boiled water? (Kekum wathurada?)".
What about brushing our teeth. Do we need bottled water for that.
Highland water comes from pure mountain springs, so it is much cleaner than Colombo water, but still, boil it.
Bring a LifeStraw or a Lifestraw bottle if you are really paranoid. I used one for all my tap water.
Brushing your teeth with tap water is generally fine, just do not swallow it.
If you still feel nervous, just ask for hot black tea. They boil the water for that right in front of you.
I drank the boiled water at all my homestays and never had a stomach issue once.
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