Is the tap water safe to drink in North Macedonia?
In the towns, generally yes; in the countryside, less reliably. WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water in North Macedonia at 80.8% for 2024: 84.7% in towns and cities and 74.9% in rural areas.
What the official figures say
Reliability matters as much as quality here. Water was available whenever needed for 80.9% of people, and free from contamination for 89.0%.
Skopje's main source is the Rašče spring, which can deliver 6,000 litres a second, topped up from the Lepenec and Nerezi well fields.
Why a public tap can still be different
Village fountains may be fed by local springs, and where the supply comes on and off, a public tap may be dry or hold water that has been standing in the pipes.
Check the tap, then tell the next person
Check the spout and give the water a few seconds before you fill up. If you drink from a fountain, add it to Fontavio or review it, so people travelling after you have something to go on.
Sources
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
- ЈП Водовод и канализација Скопје, sector for operation and maintenance (checked 2026-09-22)
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