As of early 2026, tap water in Zimbabwe is not reliably safe for travelers and should generally be avoided for drinking or brushing teeth. While major cities like Harare and Bulawayo have water treatment infrastructure, challenges with aging pipes, inconsistent chemical supplies, and frequent power outages can lead to contamination within the distribution system. In 2026, health authorities and travel safety datasets (like TapWaterScan) give the country a low safety rating, citing risks of waterborne illnesses such as cholera or typhoid. The "gold standard" for any visitor is to rely exclusively on sealed bottled water or water that has been properly treated using a high-quality filter or by boiling it for at least one minute. It is also wise to avoid ice in drinks unless you are certain it was made from purified water, and to be cautious with raw fruits and vegetables that may have been washed in local tap water. For long-term stays, installing a reverse osmosis or multi-stage ceramic filtration system is often necessary to ensure a consistent supply of safe, potable water within a household.