10 Countries With The Cleanest Water In The World

Clean water is important for the functioning of our society. We’ve put together a list of places that have the cleanest water in the world.

According to the CDC, 2 billion people don’t have any access to clean drinking water. It’s an essential issue that needs to be worked on.

It reminds those of us who do have clean tap water to also be grateful for having it. Having said all that, here’s a list of places with the cleanest water in the world.

Countries with the cleanest tap water

1. Chile

As recently as 2020, it was found that there was 98.77% clean water access in Chile. The country gets most of its freshwater supply through runoff from the Andean glaciers. 

The US Centers for Disease Control has advised US citizens that tap water in Chile is safe to drink. Researchers concluded that the water in Puerto Williams is the purest in the world. 

2. Finland

Finland’s water has been described as being of the highest quality in the world. It makes sense a country with 188,000 lakes would be skilled with water. Finland has significantly decreased the discharge of harmful substances in their waters in recent decades. 

3. Canada

According to a Water Quality Index by The Conference Board of Canada, Canada has the 4th cleanest tap world. The country is an A grade for water quality.

Toronto tests its water every four to six hours for contaminants. In Ottawa, the city undergoes 125,000 water quality tests a year.

4. Iceland

About 95% of the water in Iceland comes from the springs. The country’s water is free of nitrate, chlorine, and calcium. According to HI Iceland, the water has zero additives and contaminants.

5. Denmark

Denmark’s water goes through strict quality control to be kept clean. Because of how clean the water is, no chlorine or chemicals are added to it. It’s important to be aware that there are nitrates in Denmark’s water, which may cause certain illnesses.

6. The Netherlands

Multiple sources note that the tap water in the Netherlands is very clean. The country is said to have the second highest quality of water in all of Europe. Dutch water has lower levels of calcium than other countries and no chloride.

7. Singapore

Channel NewsAsia conducted a quality test of water in Singapore, which found no bacteria in it. According to the Singapore Government, their water is compliant with the WHO guidelines for drinking water quality.

8. Norway

As recently as 2020, clean water access in Norway was 98.64%. Most Norwegian citizens receive their water from one of the 1500 waterworks. The Norwegian waterworks adhere to high-quality standards to ensure clean drinking water.

9. Sweden

In 2020, it was found clean water access in Sweden was at 99.75%. A survey found that 95% of Swedes were satisfied with the water in their country. 

10. Switzerland

About 80% of Switzerland’s tap water comes from groundwater, while the rest comes from lakes. Similar to other countries, they adhere to strict guidelines to ensure high-quality water. National Geographic did a feature on Swiss water, describing their water as expertly managed.