Is the tap water safe to drink in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In the bigger towns, usually yes. WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 86.4% for 2024, and most of the shortfall is down to contamination rather than access.
What the official figures say
City water companies test their own supply. Sarajevo's, for example, tests every day of the year, weekends and holidays included, at about 27 samples a day, and keeps chlorine at the tap around 0.2 milligrams per litre, well below the 0.5 allowed.
Why a public tap can still be different
An old public fountain in a town centre may run on its own spring instead of the town mains, and then it isn't part of the utility's daily testing. Some fountains have a sign: nije za piće means not for drinking.
Check the tap, then tell the next person
Check for a sign and take a look at the water before you drink. If there's a fountain you trust, add it to Fontavio or review it, with its name if it has one and a word on how the water looked and tasted.
Sources
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
- KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Sarajevo, frequently asked questions (checked 2026-09-22)
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