When we travel, we are often so focused on transportation, accommodation and excursions that we overlook a fundamental element: water.
Yet drinking water safely is essential not only for our health, but it is equally important to do so responsibly to reduce environmental impact and respect the places we visit.
Whether you're traveling in Italy or on the other side of the world, here are three key tips for managing water responsibly while on the move.
1. Always check the local tap water safety
The first thing to do when arriving at a new destination is to find out whether the tap water is safe to drink.
In many European countries, such as Germany, France, Spain, or the Nordic nations, tap water is safe to drink and of excellent quality.
In other places, however, it’s best to avoid drinking it to prevent gastrointestinal infections or health issues.
To get reliable information, you can consult institutional websites such as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal (www.viaggiaresicuri.it), which provides detailed country-specific information.
Alternatively, or if you are not an Italian traveler, you can refer to international resources like the CDC Travelers’ Health portal (www.cdc.gov/travel) and the World Health Organization's guidelines on drinking water quality (www.who.int).
Both offer up-to-date and helpful guidance in English (and other languages) for travelers.
When tap water is not safe to drink, also avoid ice cubes, salads washed with local water, and brushing your teeth with tap water.
In these cases, it’s essential to use only sealed bottled water or treated water.
2. Use a reusable bottle and portable filtration systems
Carrying a reusable water bottle is one of the most sustainable and cost-effective habits you can adopt while traveling.
It helps reduce single-use plastic, saves money, and ensures you always have water available.
If you're in an area where tap water is safe to drink, you can simply refill your bottle throughout the day.
In cities like Rome, Berlin or Copenhagen, there are safe, free public fountains where you can get water.
To easily locate safe drinking fountains nearby, you can use apps and websites like Fontanelle.org (useful in Italy) or Refill, a project born in the UK but now active in many other European cities and beyond.
In destinations where tap water is not safe, there are very effective portable solutions such as:
- Activated carbon filters (e.g. LifeStraw)
- Bottles with integrated filters
- Purification tablets (iodine- or chlorine-based)
- Portable UV sterilizers
These tools allow you to purify water easily, avoiding the constant purchase of plastic bottles and helping reduce waste in the places you visit.
3. Drink consciously to avoid waste
While traveling, especially in hot or tropical areas, we tend to drink more than usual — but not always thoughtfully.
In addition to staying well hydrated (which is essential for your health), it’s important to avoid wasting water unnecessarily.
Here are some good practices:
- Avoid overfilling your bottle, especially if you know you won’t finish it: it’s better to refill in smaller amounts than waste water.
- Don’t open multiple bottles at once, especially when traveling in a group.
- In hotels or accommodations, use reusable cups or bottles instead of single-use ones often provided for free.
- In areas with water scarcity, avoid washing yourself with bottled drinking water if other options are available.
Every small action counts: according to a WWF report, tourism significantly contributes to global water consumption, with greater impacts in countries already suffering from water stress.
Traveling responsibly also means paying attention to how much water we use and how we use it.
Drinking water safely, reducing plastic use, and avoiding waste are three simple but essential actions for anyone who wants to travel consciously.
Every choice you make while traveling has an impact, and water is a precious and finite resource that must be used mindfully — wherever you are.