Is the tap water safe to drink in the Faroe Islands?

Yes, on the municipal supply. In Tórshavn, testing laboratories check the drinking water every month for chemical and microbiological measures, the municipality runs its own checks for E. coli and coliform bacteria in between, and the results are published. WHO and UNICEF publish no safely managed estimate for the Faroe Islands, but count every home as having piped water.

What the official figures say

Tórshavn's 13 waterworks treat about four million cubic metres of water a year, and the capital draws on three reservoirs, in Villingadalur, Havnardalur and Argir. At Havnardalur the water is sand-filtered, treated with UV light and pH-adjusted, while the Argir works, fed by springs, uses UV light alone.

Faroese water is very soft, under 1 degree of German hardness.

Why a public tap can still be different

You'll pass countless streams and waterfalls on the islands, and none of that water is treated. If tap water comes out yellow or brown, Tórshavn's advice is to let it run at full pressure for a good while, and to call the water utility if it's still discoloured after an hour.

Check the tap, then tell the next person

Use taps that are clearly meant for drinking, at harbours, campsites and trailheads, and check them first. When you find one, add it to Fontavio or review it, and mention which island you were on.

• Water, toilets and showers in Faroe Islands
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Sources

1. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
2. Tórshavnar kommuna, Drekkivatn og vatnkanningar (checked 2026-09-22)
3. Tórshavnar kommuna, Vatnverk í Tórshavnar kommunu (checked 2026-09-22)