When you fill a glass from the tap in London or Paris, it is easy to take the water’s cleanliness for granted. According to an analysis of global water quality by World Population Review , the UK and several European neighbours score a perfect 100 on a measure of health impacts from unsafe drinking water. This places them at the very top of the global rankings and often feeds the idea that parts of Europe have the best tap water in the world.
At the other end of that same scale are countries where safe tap water is still a rare privilege. Chad, for example, has a score of just 4.6 out of 100, highlighting how uneven access to basic drinking water safety remains worldwide.
These contrasts show just how fortunate much of Europe is. In this blog, we look more closely at what those rankings really reflect, what they leave out, and what they mean for the water that flows from taps across the UK and EU. If the region already sits at the top of the rankings, how confident should people feel about the water they drink every day?
What ‘safe’ drinking water really means in rankings
Global water quality rankings primarily focus on the health risks associated with unsafe drinking water. In simple terms, they measure how many people are getting ill from contaminated water. A score of 100 means almost no one in that country is becoming seriously unwell because of what comes out of the tap each day.
The UK, Germany, Italy and other high scorers benefit from decades of investment in treatment systems that have nearly eliminated traditional waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
Countries at the lower end of the rankings face a very different reality. Limited sanitation and ageing or inadequate infrastructure mean that millions of people still live with the daily threat of waterborne illness. It is a striking reminder of how much progress Europe has made in protecting public health.
But ‘safe’ does not always mean ‘pristine.’ Clear tap water might not cause an upset stomach, yet it can still contain traces of modern pollutants that are easy to overlook. These subtle contaminants do not appear in the global rankings, which focus on acute disease rather than long-term exposure.
This gap between safety and purity is where even world-leading systems, including the UK's, have a little fine print worth acknowledging.
Which country has the best tap water quality?
Seven countries have the best tap water quality, with a score of 100: Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Finland, and Ireland.
These rankings reflect public health protection standards, but they do not capture everything that ends up in a glass of tap water.
The UK and Europe: among the cleanest tap water, but not perfect
Recent global scores place the UK and several European countries at the very top for safe drinking water. Those high marks are reassuring, but they only show part of the story of what actually flows from the tap.
Top of the charts for safe tap water
Britain and its European neighbours enjoy some of the cleanest drinking water on the planet. Decades of investment in treatment plants, regulations and regular testing mean that when you turn on the tap in London or Manchester, you can be reasonably sure you will not catch a waterborne bug.
Ten European countries, including the UK, share the top ranking for water quality worldwide. This is an achievement worth celebrating. It reflects effective policies and infrastructure that many parts of the world are still working towards.
Cleanest tap water does not mean contaminant free
But meeting official standards and being truly contaminant free are not the same thing.
European water authorities test for a wide range of pollutants and enforce strict limits. Even so, recent findings suggest that some contaminants are widespread even in ‘safe’ tap water.
For example, a comprehensive study by Orb Media found microplastic fibres in 72% of tap water samples across Europe . These microscopic plastic particles were detected even in places like the UK and Germany.
Scientists are still studying the health implications, but the idea of ingesting tiny bits of plastic with every glass of water is not exactly comforting.
Health risks and hidden contaminants in tap water
Another growing concern is chemical residues that slip through conventional water treatment. Agricultural fertilisers are a big culprit. Nitrates from farm runoff seep into groundwater and can end up in tap water.
According to Greenpeace, about 14% of groundwater monitoring stations across Europe have nitrate levels above the safe drinking limit.
In other words, more than one in seven wells or aquifers contain excessive nitrates, a problem that has been linked to health issues such as ‘blue baby’ syndrome and elevated cancer risk.
The UK and EU do have regulations to keep nitrate levels in check, but intensive farming means this is a constant battle, especially in rural areas.
And it is not just nitrates. Tap water can carry traces of everything from chlorine byproducts to heavy metals in areas with older pipes, as well as ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS. In fact, a 2021 assessment by the European Environment Agency found that only 29% of Europe’s surface water bodies were in good chemical condition, with pollutants such as mercury and industrial chemicals detected in the rest.
So while tap water in the UK and Europe will not usually make people acutely ill, it may still carry a mix of modern pollutants that are harder to see.
Bridging the gap: from treatment plant to tap
The good news is that awareness of these issues is prompting action. European authorities are updating standards and investing in new treatment technologies to target micropollutants. In many countries, large wastewater plants are required to add advanced treatment stages so that more pharmaceutical and cosmetic residues are removed before treated water reaches rivers.
These upgrades take time, often decades and significant investment, and there are ongoing debates over who will fund them. In the meantime, what can individual households do to ensure the water they drink is as pure as possible?
1. Use point-of-use filtration
One practical step is point-of-use filtration, which means filtering the water again right before it is poured into a glass. This is where systems like AquaTru’s 4-stage reverse osmosis purifier help. Countertop or under sink units add an extra layer of protection beyond what municipal treatment provides. In AquaTru’s case, the technology is independently certified to remove up to 99% of contaminants, including toxic metals, nitrates, microplastics and drug residues, for truly clean, purified water at home.
Importantly, using a quality home water filter does not mean there is no trust in the local water utility. It simply ensures that finer particles and trace contaminants are captured before the water is consumed. It is a way of polishing an already decent product into something exceptional.
2. Staying informed
Beyond installing a purifier, staying informed is also important. Local water companies and regulators in the UK publish drinking water quality reports that show levels of substances such as nitrate, lead and pesticides. Households with private wells may want to have them tested from time to time. Simple habits like these mean that even in countries with supposedly excellent water, it is still possible to enjoy the best water quality available at home.
A world of difference, a common goal: clean drinking water
The contrast in water quality worldwide shows how deeply infrastructure and governance shape something as simple as a glass of water. While discussions in the UK and Europe often focus on microplastics or chemical traces, many communities elsewhere still struggle with basic access to safe drinking water. Closing that gap will require long-term investment, strong policies and international cooperation.
For countries that already lead global rankings, one reminder stands out. Do not take water for granted. It is something to value, but also something to understand. ‘Safe’ protects against illness, yet the broader goal is water that is truly clean and supports long-term wellbeing. With new contaminants emerging, progress depends on shared responsibility. Regulators strengthen treatment systems. Households stay informed. And brands with a clear mission contribute through innovation and research, helping set the standard for what many consider the best tap water in the world.
Drink tap water at its best with AquaTru
This is where AquaTru stands. Our work is rooted in a simple belief that everyone deserves access to cleaner, healthier water. The technology we develop, the research we support and the standards we uphold all move toward that same global goal.
In the end, water quality is more than a score on a ranking. It is trust in the everyday act of filling a glass. There is still progress to make before every community can enjoy that same trust. Locally, each household can take steps toward better water. Globally, AquaTru remains part of the effort to raise standards. Every improvement matters, and every effort counts.
If you would like to explore solutions designed to support cleaner tap water at home, discover our water filters.
