Can you drink the tap water in Curaçao?

Health & safety · 4 min read · Checked November 9, 2026

Who says it is safe

• Curaçao Tourist Board: says the water is safe to drink and of excellent quality.
• Aqualectra, the island’s utility: said in 2022 that Curaçao is widely known for high-quality water that people can enjoy straight from the tap.
• US CDC and UK TravelHealthPro: give general food and water advice, but no verdict on Curaçao’s tap water.

We could not find published test results. Our answer rests on these statements and on finding no boil-water notice in the 2026 news.

How seawater becomes drinking water

Curaçao began distilling seawater for drinking water in 1928. That operation is now Aqualectra. Today most of the water is made by reverse osmosis, which pushes seawater through very fine membranes to take out the salt.

A new reverse osmosis plant at Hato West was scheduled to start in October 2026 and to supply about half of the island’s drinking water. When we checked, we could not confirm that it had started.

What it tastes like

The Tourist Board describes the water as soft, tasteless and odorless, with little calcium. A 2017 report in the Antilliaans Dagblad also said it contains no chlorine. If you are used to harder or chlorinated water at home, it may taste a little flat at first.

Ice and drinks

We found no official statement about ice. One water-safety site says ice is generally safe across the island because of its treated water supply. If you are unsure at a small stall or on a boat, ask how the ice was made.

Villas, apartments and older buildings

The water can be fine when it reaches a building and still pick up a taste from old pipes. Travel guides suggest letting the tap run briefly in older buildings. If your villa or apartment has its own water tank, ask your host whether they drink from it.

If the water stops running, check the main tap outside first. Aqualectra’s 24-hour fault line is 0800-0135.

Taps that are not for drinking

In 2022 Aqualectra announced a separate network of second-grade water for swimming pools, toilets, washing cars and watering plants. It was planned for the Bapor Kibra area, including the public beach at Mari Pampoen, and it is completely separate from the drinking water network.

So do not drink from a garden hose or an outdoor tap at a beach or resort unless it is clearly marked as drinking water.

If you would rather not drink it

Bottled water is easy to find in shops. If you are happy with the tap water, a refillable bottle saves money and plastic. Curaçao is hot all year, so fill up before a beach day or a hike.

If you have a weakened immune system, or you are preparing formula for a baby, follow your doctor’s advice. For more on staying well on the island, read our guide to safety in Curaçao.

Sources: Curaçao Tourist Board, Aqualectra (press release in Curaçao Chronicle, 26 August 2022, and aqualectra.com), Seven Seas Water (27 November 2024), Curaçao Chronicle on the new plant, Antilliaans Dagblad (14 August 2017), US CDC (reviewed 25 August 2026), UK TravelHealthPro and canidrinkthetapwater.com.

Cover photo: the entrance to Aqualectra’s water plant in Willemstad, by Kattiel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.