With more than 30 years’ experience in the residential and commercial water treatment space, Mark Nelson is a Class 1 Drinking-Water Operator and a CBWA (Canadian Bottled Water Association) Certified Plant Operator. As founder and president of Nelson Water in Ottawa, Mark focuses on dealing with challenging water treatment system designs for problem water. He also heads the largest water bottling plant in the city of Ottawa with a delivery network throughout the Valley. 

Water is an incredibly valuable resource that is essential for our life, and it’s also a major factor in maintaining a clean environment. Even in developed nations, there are many problems with modern tap water and contaminants are in our water supplies. It’s important to remember that we can take preventative measures to ensure that we have cleaner and healthier water for our families. Our drinking water doesn’t have to be laced with chlorine to make it safe if you use the latest water treatment methods. Let’s take a closer look at five countries that have the best tap water in the world for drinking.

1. United Kingdom

It’s a running joke that the UK has a lot of rain and this island nation is well known for its sudden weather changes. There are days when a sunny day can quickly turn into rain or hail, particularly in late fall and winter. Some areas, in Scotland, Cumbria and the North West, in general, receive a great deal of precipitation. This makes the country rich in water resources. There are 338 surface water bodies and 1,947 groundwater reservoirs. It’s not this wealth of available water that gives the UK some of the best drinking water in the world. There are strict drinking water regulations in place, backed up by a rigorous testing and monitoring program. A decentralized system is in place that carries out inspections for each UK country, and a report is produced annually. Sadly, the water is disinfected with chlorine to prevent waterborne diseases, and it can have an aftertaste. Scotland has the highest water quality, and it’s no coincidence that it’s the rainiest country in the UK with 3,000 mm of rain on average annually.

2. Iceland

Iceland is an island country located in the North Atlantic, and because of it’s snowy glaciers and volcanoes, it’s often known as “The Land of Ice and Fire.” The largest glacier is located at Vatnajökull, it has an area of 8,100 sq km, and it actually covers almost 8% of Iceland. Along with many smaller glaciers, Vatnajökull affects the water quality and distribution across the island. Because of its geography, Iceland receives a lot of rain, on average 15 days out of any month deliver rain or snow. These high levels of precipitation ensure that Iceland has high quality groundwater. Almost 95% of Icelandic drinking water is sourced from these groundwater reservoirs, and it’s safe to drink without treatment. The remaining 5% comes from surface water, it’s treated using UV light, and no chlorine is used at all. Also, the volcanic conditions on Iceland create soft water that is cold and has an extremely low mineral content. A water safety plan has been in place since 1995 to protect Iceland’s drinking water resources, and the water is classified as a food source.

3. Switzerland

Located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is defined by the Alps, a mountain range that covers two thirds of the territory with 48 peaks that rise over 4,000 metres above sea level. This mountainous terrain helps the country to receive 1,431mm of rain on average every year. This ensures that the groundwater supplies are naturally refilled with high quality water. The drinking water in Switzerland is so clean that it’s the same quality as commercial mineral water. Almost half of the tap water in Switzerland isn’t treated in any way, and it has no chemical aftertaste. Around 40% of the drinking water is sourced from natural springs, another 40% from groundwater and the remaining 20% is taken from surface lakes. The Swiss government has realised that they have a valuable natural commodity and they have implemented extensive measure to protect their water supplies. Sustainable farming practices are encouraged to reduce pesticides and fertilizers and phosphates are banned in laundry detergents.

4. Norway

Norway’s is a Scandinavian country that is well known for its fjords and lakes. The country has a long history of environmental protection, and this includes the extensive waterways. Norway has 455,000 lakes that make up 5% of its territory, another 25% of the land is covered by four rivers that are also used for hydroelectric operations. Around 0.7% of the mainland is covered in glaciers, including the Jostedalsbreen glacier, which is the largest glacier found on the European mainland. Given the abundance of rainfall and surface water locations, it may come as no surprise that 90% of tap water is sourced from surface water and the remaining 10% from groundwater. The water quality is closely monitored, in 2017 new legislation was introduced to ensure that the water has no discoloration, odour or aftertaste. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has reported that some areas have outdated pipes that need to be replaced in the near future.

5. Sweden

Staying in Scandinavia, Sweden is Norway’s neighbour, and this country is well known for its environmentally forward thinking. The natural resources are protected, the surface water resources are numerous, and the water is naturally clean. In fact, Swedes drink more tap water than bottled water, and tap water is often available for free in restaurants and cafes. The tap water is Sweden is cold and refreshing in most places, and it tastes better than many spring water alternatives. Approximately 50% of the tap water in Sweden comes from surface lakes and rivers, and the remainder comes from groundwater. Many studies have confirmed that Swedish drinking water is consistently high in quality and frequent testing is carried out by the National Food Administration. Sweden also performs well in its treatment of wastewater by using extremely sophisticated treatment technology.

In Conclusion

When you read about the water quality in the countries above there is a pattern that repeats. The countries that enjoy the purest water have many common features, they all receive high amounts of rainfall, and they have extensive groundwater and surface water areas. Another common feature is that the governments in these countries are environmentally conscious and they use the latest technology to treat their water and wastewater. Modern industry and farming methods can cause a great deal of pollution, and this can make its way into our groundwater and surface water supplies. Clean water is essential for a healthy life, and it’s a great idea to ensure that you have the best supply possible.