Is the tap water safe to drink in Latvia?
Yes. WHO and UNICEF put the share of people in Latvia with safely managed drinking water at home at 97.0% in 2024.
What the official figures say
In Riga the water company tests the city's water every working day, and which water you get depends on your side of the river. The left bank of the Daugava drinks treated river water, disinfected with ozone, while the right bank gets groundwater.
When six new public drinking taps opened in Riga's Vērmanes dārzs park and a resident questioned the water, the city had all six tested. Every one met the standards.
Why a public tap can still be different
A public tap depends on its own pipes and upkeep, and one that has stood unused holds stale water. In the countryside, a pump or a tap at a summer house may be on a private well.
Check the tap, then tell the next person
Let the water run for a few seconds and check the spout. If the tap is good, add it to Fontavio or review it, and note whether it was running.
Sources
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
- Rīgas ūdens, Rīgas dzeramā ūdens pārbaudes (checked 2026-09-22)
Get it before the next long walk.
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