Icelanders have the good fortune of having access to an almost limitless and inexpensive supply of pure water, both geothermally heated or ice cold. The drinking of Icelandic water is enjoyed by everyone who sips it as it is one of the purest in the world. The cold water supply springs from mountain streams and contains no additives such as chlorine or fluoride. The Icelandic water is naturally-filtered, safe and has an excellent refreshing taste. It is not without cause that Icelanders say their water is the best in the world!

No heavy metals

According to an OECD report from 2001, Icelandic drinking water is of high quality and without traces of contaminants or heavy metals. Stringent quality control measures ensure consistent quality and safety of the water. In fact, Reykjavík Water Works, now a part of Reykjavík Energy, was the first Nordic company to receive the ISO 9001 quality standard.

Rotten eggs and hot tubs

Visitors to Iceland often ask why the hot water smells of rotten eggs. This is because the hot and cold water come from two different sources. It is true that the hot water sometimes smells of sulphur, which is due to the geothermal origins of the hot water, making it excellent for bathing, but not drinking. The hot water which is supplied by the geothermal power plants is best experienced in one of the many geothermal swimming pools and hot tubs of the city.

In order to enjoy the wonderful taste of the pure spring water, let the cold water run for a while from the tap until ice cold, to ensure that no hot water is mixed in.

Skál!