Is the Water Safe to Drink in Wallis & Futuna?

While drinking water in some parts of Wallis and Futuna is considered safe for locals, especially on Wallis, we generally don't recommend it for visitors.

The municipal water supply may contain bacterial strains that locals are accustomed to, but these can cause upset stomachs for travellers who aren't used to the drinking water in Wallis and Futuna. Though unlikely to cause serious harm, it's best to stick to bottled, filtered or boiled water to avoid any digestive issues during your travels.

If you're planning to venture to Futuna, it's wise to be prepared with a filtration system, like a Lifestraw Water Bottle, or stock up on bottled water in Leava, Futuna's main hub, before venturing to more remote parts of Futuna or Alofi.

Bottled Water in Wallis and Futuna

Bottled water is readily available at local supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Wallis and Futuna. Learn more about where to find stores in A Guide to Supermarkets & Food Shopping in Wallis & Futuna LINK#TT020.

Make sure to dispose of your plastic waste responsibly after use and reuse it whenever possible.

The public water supply in Wallis and Futuna is managed by Electricité et Eau de Wallis et Futuna (EEWF). The territory primarily relies on groundwater sources through boreholes, though challenges with ageing infrastructure and contamination risks mean the supply isn't always reliable.

How is Water in Wallis and Futuna Treated?

Groundwater from boreholes forms the backbone of the water treatment system across both islands. The water undergoes UV sterilisation and chemical dosing to ensure it meets safety standards.

For areas with particularly hard water or contamination issues, you'll find reverse osmosis (RO) systems that help remove excess minerals and contaminants from the supply.

Surface water from rivers and lakes can be processed through ultrafiltration or RO systems when needed, though this is less common than groundwater treatment.

In coastal areas where freshwater is scarce, seawater RO desalination systems provide an alternative source, converting ocean water into drinking water.

Unfortunately, ageing infrastructure presents real challenges. Storage capacity is often insufficient, and the system struggles particularly after heavy rain when contamination risks increase.

Drinking Tap Water in Wallis and Futuna

While locals generally drink the tap water without issues, contamination risks from piggeries and inadequate sanitation systems can affect both groundwater sources and the surrounding lagoons.

It's generally advised for visitors to treat or boil tap water before drinking, especially after periods of heavy rain when the system may be compromised. Even if locals are comfortable drinking it, visitors may not have built up immunity to local bacterial strains.

According to our very own editor-in-chief, Laura, it's always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to water safety.

As we’ve established, treating drinking water in Wallis and Futuna is a good idea for travellers. We understand, however, that there are some challenges when it comes to making sure water is safe to drink, like having access to facilities to boil water or even the environmental implications of buying bottled water.

That's why we have prepared a few ways to purify water so you can put that in your knowledge bank for any tropical adventure!

Boil the Water

Bringing the water to a boil for 10 minutes is probably the best-known method of purifying water. It kills parasites, bacteria and even viruses and ensures that it is fully safe to drink. Plus, it is the cheapest water purifying method out there. Note that boiling water in a kettle won't effectively kill bacteria; water must be boiled for several minutes.

If you want to ensure you can use this method to treat water, check out accommodations with kitchen facilities in Where to Stay in Wallis and Futuna.

Use Water Purification Tablets

Use your own water bottle, drop a water purifying tablet and “voila!” This method has been trialled and tested for years and despite the fact that it gives a bit of a weird taste to the water, it is widely used by travellers around the globe.

If the taste is an issue for you, try a water-purifying solution. Although a bit more expensive, it offers better taste and water clarity than tablets. Price-wise, this is still going to save you tens of dollars compared to buying bottled water all trip long.

Buy a Water-Purifying Water Bottle

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By far our favourite solution of them all, water-purifying bottles like the Lifestraw Bottle removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan. That means that there is no boiling necessary and that you can fill up your water bottle from any tap in Wallis and Futuna and know that you have a filtration system with you.

While they are not the cheapest option, once the initial purchase is done, all you have to do is replace the filtration cartridge when it expires.

Although there are alternative brands to Lifestraw, this is just the one that the WallisandFutunaPocketGuide.com team use when travelling the Pacific, so we can recommend it with confidence. When looking for alternatives, make sure to search for “water-purifying” and not “water-filtration”, as filtration only improves the taste of the water.

For more handy things to pack for Wallis and Futuna, check out What to Pack for Wallis and Futuna: A Full Packing List LINK#TT037.