Tap water in the northern areas is not reliably safe to drink untreated, despite how clean the rivers and streams look. Bottled water, a filter, or boiling are the practical choices for travellers, and the reason is less about the mountains being dirty and more about what happens to water after it leaves the glacier and reaches a town.
Why clean-looking water isn't necessarily safe
Glacial and spring water at its actual source, high on a mountainside, is generally very clean. The problem is that almost nobody drinks water at the source. By the time it reaches a tap in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza or a village along the way, it has passed through open channels, storage tanks and pipework in towns that mostly lack proper sewage treatment, with wastewater often draining into the same rivers that supply drinking water further downstream.
A government-commissioned assessment of water quality in Gilgit-Baltistan found that only around 22% of tested water sources met safe drinking standards, with the remainder failing mainly because of microbial contamination, along with turbidity, iron and other issues in a smaller share of samples. Separate studies of Azad Kashmir's water sources, including springs and tap supplies, have reported similarly poor results, and heavy metal contamination has also been detected in some samples across the wider region.
The practical point for a traveller: it is impossible to tell by looking, smelling or tasting whether a given tap or spring is one of the safe minority or not.
What can make you unwell
The main risk from contaminated water in the northern areas is the same as anywhere with poor sanitation: bacteria and parasites that cause diarrhoea and stomach upset, including organisms like Giardia that can be present in mountain streams downstream of any grazing or settlement. This is unpleasant on a family holiday and genuinely disruptive on a trek, where there is no quick way to get back to a pharmacy.
Heavy metals and chemical contamination are a longer-term concern for residents rather than something a short visit is likely to be affected by, but they are part of why "it looks clean" is not a reliable test.
What to actually do about it
- Drink bottled water from a sealed bottle, bought from a shop rather than refilled, as the simplest option for most trips. It is widely available in towns along the main routes; carry extra for stretches with fewer shops, such as high mountain roads and treks.
- Use a filter or purifier for trekking or longer stays, particularly a filter rated for bacteria and protozoa (not just sediment), or a combination of filtration and UV or chemical treatment for the most thorough protection. This is the standard advice for treks in the Karakoram and Himalaya generally, not something specific to Pakistan.
- Boiling water for a few minutes kills the biological risks and is a reliable fallback wherever you can heat water, including most guesthouses and hotels.
- Be cautious with ice, salads and anything washed in tap water at basic guesthouses, for the same reason bottled water matters: it isn't the water itself that's the issue, it's what has happened to it before it reaches you.
- Carry oral rehydration salts as part of a basic first aid kit, since the standard response to a stomach bug from bad water is rehydration, not necessarily antibiotics.
Bottled water vs a filter: which to choose
For a short road trip with regular stops in towns, bottled water is simpler and needs no equipment. For a trek, a multi-day stay away from shops, or a large group trying to avoid the cost and waste of buying dozens of bottles, a filter or purifier pays for itself quickly and works anywhere there is a stream, which bottled water obviously cannot guarantee.
Either way, treat "the water here is glacial, so it's pure" as a myth to plan around rather than rely on. Our travel guide covers other health basics for a trip north, including altitude and food safety.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink tap water in Hunza or Skardu?
Not reliably. Studies of water quality across Gilgit-Baltistan have found the large majority of tested sources unsafe by drinking-water standards, mainly due to microbial contamination, so bottled or treated water is the safer choice.
Is glacier water safe to drink straight from a stream?
Not automatically. Water can look completely clear and still carry bacteria or parasites picked up from grazing animals or settlements upstream. Filtering or purifying stream water on a trek is worth doing even where it looks pristine.
Does boiling water make it safe to drink?
Yes. Boiling for a few minutes kills the bacteria and parasites responsible for most travellers' stomach upsets in the region, and it is a reliable option anywhere you can heat water.
What should I pack in case I do get a stomach bug from the water?
Oral rehydration salts, a basic anti-diarrhoeal if advised by a doctor, and enough bottled water to stay hydrated. Seek medical help if symptoms are severe or don't improve within a day or two; our guide to medical facilities in the region covers where the nearest hospital is likely to be.
Is bottled water always available on the road to the north?
In towns along the main routes, yes, generally. On higher and more remote stretches, such as the last legs of a trek or a long mountain road, shops thin out, so carry more water than you expect to need.
