Safe to drink. A city-specific assessment for Mumbai.
Can you…
Can you drink the tap water in Mumbai?
Last reviewed September 2026 · India
Short answer: yes — you can drink the tap water in Mumbai. It rates 75/100 on our index, so in Mumbai a glass straight from the faucet, ice in your drink and a bottle refilled at your hotel are all fine for a visitor. Mumbai's own supply is treated to a high standard.
Tap water for visitors to Mumbai
Everyday use is easy in Mumbai: brushing your teeth, making coffee, cooking and rinsing salad all work straight from the tap, and there's no need to buy bottled water for safety — a refillable bottle is cheaper and cuts plastic. If Mumbai's water ever tastes of chlorine, a jug filter or letting it stand clears it; that's taste, not safety.
Boiling isn't necessary in Mumbai unless a local notice says otherwise. The only thing worth a glance is an older Mumbai building with aging plumbing or a rooftop tank, where quality can slip between the mains and the tap — rare in a place scoring 75/100, but the reason we still say "generally".
More depth in our guides on boiling water and drinking tap water while traveling.
How Mumbai compares to the rest of India
Mumbai is rated 75/100, against 35/100 for India as a whole — its water infrastructure tends to run ahead of the national average.
Mumbai tap water: quick answers
Can you drink tap water in Mumbai?+
Yes. Tap water in Mumbai rates 75/100, so it's safe to drink straight from the tap for most visitors.
Is ice safe, and can you brush your teeth with tap water in Mumbai?+
Both are fine in Mumbai — the tap water behind the ice and your toothbrush is safe.
Do you need bottled water in Mumbai?+
Not for safety. Bottled water in Mumbai is a convenience, not a necessity — a refillable bottle works and costs far less.
Where this rating comes from
There’s no single official dataset for city-level tap water, so the Mumbai rating is drawn from India’s national water-safety assessment and conditions specific to the city alongside CDC traveler guidance. For the official monitoring behind it, see tap water in India or the methodology.