Thread: Can we drink the water?

A friend of mine who is pursuing a PhD in geography (and can't find his way to the corner grocery) travels a lot in the central american rain forests as part of his research. He says that in some places, like Guatemala, the water is so infested with parasites that you can't even let it touch your lips.

I've heard that in San Pedro you can't drink the water, but can bathe in it. Does anybody know the real deal on the water? If we can't drink it, does that mean we can't eat at tourist hotels and local restaurants? I know there's bottled water available; where does it come from (somebody's faucet?)?

Also, does San Pedro and/or Belize City have a malaria problem? The aforementioned student has to take antimalarial drugs several weeks before, all during, and weeks after visiting the rain forest, and he claims it fries his brain. Do we have to worry about this?

I would really hate to have to worry about stuff like that while going to med school!! Just write the MCAT and apply to the "big 4". If you are going to risk malaria and parasites, you might as well do it in a better school.
AUC is on St. Maarten and I don't think they have to worry about "rolling the dice with God" every time they drink from a water fountain.

The bottled water here is purified by reverse osmosis. It's produced in Belize City. The water from the tap here you can use to bath no problem.

There is no malaria problem on San Pedro and on the mainland it's only in remote swampy areas where malaria will be the last thing you worry about.

Bottled water is excellent here. You can have it delivered to your door. It's inexpensive as well: 5 gallon jug = 4.75BZ ---> $2.38US

Good drinking water is the last thing to worry about on the island. You get the luxury of having your 5 gallon water delivered to your apartment everytime you run out. You put your empty gallon at your door and it is replaced. It is just like Deer Pack purified water in the states. You can also have soda and beer delivered to your door. And all the delivery is at no cost.

Malaria!!! Non-existent. There is no malaria on the island nor on the mainland. I am not suprised Stewie someone like you will come on our forum and come discourage students. If your island is so good then you dont have to come here and encourage student to come to your Island. It should speak for itself just just like San Pedro does.

Peace

your this fourm was so great than answer the original posters question. that YES YOU CAN NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER and that malaria can be a potential problem however it is not as rampant.
that should have been the simnple answer that the poster was looking for. remember simple questions require simple answers. we are doctors in training not lawyers

You can drink the tap water depending on where u live. Some of the housin here have a purified tap water system and some don't, but its fine to take a bath in. And like everyone else has mentioned bottle water or spring water is readily available for a very small fee.

And its fine to eat at the restaurants here, they will not serve you anything thats going to make us ill. You have to realize that this is a tourist island so they are very careful about making sure that their customers are very happy.