Is the tap water safe to drink in Switzerland?
Yes. More than 80% of Swiss drinking water comes from groundwater, according to the federal environment office, and WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water at 96.7% for 2024.
What the official figures say
Zurich has more than 1,200 public fountains, and the city says every one of them gives drinking water, about 800 of them straight from the ordinary mains.
Why a public tap can still be different
Out of town, check the fountain for a sign: kein Trinkwasser, eau non potable and acqua non potabile all mean the water isn't safe to drink. Alpine troughs are often for livestock, and springs on mountain paths are untested.
Check the tap, then tell the next person
Check the sign and the spout before you drink. When you add or review a fountain on Fontavio, mention whether it runs in winter; that's useful for anyone visiting outside the summer.
Sources
- WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, household drinking water data (2025 update, estimates for 2024) (checked 2026-09-22)
- Bundesamt für Umwelt, Grundwasser (checked 2026-09-22)
- Stadt Zürich, Brunnen (checked 2026-09-22)
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