Can You Drink Tap Water in the Marshall Islands?

Tap water in the Marshall Islands is not safe to drink. The Marshall Islands is a Pacific nation of 29 low-lying coral atolls and 5 islands, with no rivers, no lakes, and virtually no groundwater suitable for drinking. The country is entirely dependent on rainwater catchment and imported bottled water for its freshwater supply.

In Majuro, the capital atoll, the Majuro Water and Sewer Company (MWSC) distributes water collected from a catchment area at the airport. This supply is treated and piped to urban areas, but quality is inconsistent — particularly during dry periods when catchment levels fall and saltwater intrusion can affect the system. Hotels and guesthouses in Majuro provide bottled or treated water for guests. Bottled water is available in the capital at supermarkets and hotels.

Ebeye, on Kwajalein Atoll, is one of the most densely populated places in the Pacific and has severe water infrastructure challenges. Residents rely primarily on desalination and rainwater catchment. Drinking water quality on Ebeye is not reliable for visitors.

On outer atolls — which make up the majority of the Marshall Islands' geography — water infrastructure is essentially non-existent. Communities depend entirely on individual household rainwater catchment. Bottled water is not available on outer atolls. Any visitor to outer islands must carry a portable filter and purification tablets and treat all catchment water before consumption.

The Marshall Islands faces an existential threat from climate change — rising seas contaminate freshwater lenses with saltwater intrusion, and storm surges flood catchments with seawater. The country has documented episodes of acute water emergency requiring international humanitarian assistance. Use only bottled or thoroughly treated water throughout the Marshall Islands.