Illness prevention

    Water Safety Abroad

    Contaminated water is one of the most common sources of travel illness — a few consistent habits reduce your risk significantly.

    At a glance

    What travellers should know

    • Stick to sealed bottled or properly treated water in higher-risk destinations
    • Ice can be a hidden source of contamination
    • Brushing teeth with tap water can still pose a risk in some destinations

    Practical tips

    Use sealed bottled water or water you've treated yourself (boiling, filtering or purification tablets), avoid ice unless you're confident of its source, and consider using bottled water to brush your teeth in higher-risk areas.

    Common questions

    Water Safety Abroad FAQs

    Continue your travel health planning

    Based in Cramlington

    Travel vaccinations for Newcastle and Northumberland

    Newcastle Travel Clinic is operated from Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington. We provide pharmacist-led travel vaccinations and personalised travel-health advice for patients travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and surrounding communities.

    Clinic address
    Unit 1, Northumbria Health & Care Academy, Northumbria Way, Cramlington, NE23 6NZ
    Free parking
    40 minutes free parking immediately outside.
    Open seven days a week
    Including Saturday and Sunday appointments.