Newcomers to Spain are often concerned about water quality here on base and in the surrounding area. Yes, Spain is a different country, but it's a First World country like America! So you don't encounter any of the problems that you would if you traveled to, say, Mexico. Let me first assure you that tap water in Spain is completely safe for drinking and cooking. It does not need to be purified or boiled first, since water treatment plants handle that. On base, water is tested regularly to meet BOTH American and Spanish standards. Off base, it is tested and filtered to meet Spanish standards, which are similar. So there is no risk of getting sick from bacteria in water from the tap, from public drinking fountains, at restaurants, etc.With that said, there are occassional complaints and rumors about the local water, so let's address these honestly.
First, the taste: The Spanish use Chlorine to sterilize tap water (this is common in the States, too). For this reason, there can be a certain chemical taste to the water. It is not dangerous, and you usually get used to it after a while. However, some people prefer to use a Brita or Pur water filter simply to purify the taste. This is a matter of personal preference.
Second, sediment: If you live near the beach, particularly off base, you may have higher levels of sediment like fine sand in your tap water. Again, this is not dangerous, just annoying. A Brita filter will help remove them.
Third, lead: Because base housing was constructed in the 1960's, there has been concern recently about the use of lead in some of the old plumbing. Lead pipes were not used, but lead coupling was used in certain places outside the homes. In 2014, the Housing Office tested every single unit in base housing to detect trace amount of lead in the drinking water. A few houses were discovered to have minimal amounts (not harmful, but above the acceptable quality), so those houses are no longer available for residents until the plumbing is replaced. So, if you are moving into a house on base, it has already been tested for lead and passed!
Hard Water Issues and Solutions:
The water in this area is considered "hard" water, which means it has high levels of minerals in it, especially calcium. Again, this is common in many areas of the States. It is not at all dangerous, it just leads to certain problems with cleaning things. When hard water dries, the mineral deposits are left behind and appear as white spots or patches. This doesn't really hurt anything, it is just unsightly. The calcium build-up can become hard and stubborn to remove. If you choose to buy a hard water filter, it would run the water through layers of sand and salt to remove those minerals. However, there are rare, expensive, and really not worth the effort. So here are more practical ways to deal with hard water:
Dishwasher: water will leave white spots on the dishes, unless it is treated in one of the following ways.
1. add white vinegar to your machine each cycle, just a small quantity in the rinse cup.
2. sprinkle Borax into the bottom of the dishwasher, about 1/4 cup per load. Borax is sold in the Commissary cleaning aisle.
3. In Spanish machines, there is a place to fill it with a large quantity of salt. Do not use regular table salt! This is for special dishwasher salt, available in Spanish stores. It only needs to be refilled every few months. The salt filters the water removing the minerals.
Cleaning water stains: You will notice white spots or stains on many things. Often they can be removed with a solution of white vinegar and water. You can also use the cleaning product CLR (Calcium, Lime, Rust). The white stains are calcium.
- Cars will get white spots if they are not dried properly after a car wash, or if they get wet from the lawn sprinklers. Try to avoid build-up by getting frequent washes. (There are charity car washes by various base organizations almost weekly in the Spring and Summer). If the build-up will not come off with a regular wash, use a solution of water and vinegar--or even straight vinegar--to dissolve the stains. This does not seem to hurt the car finish.
- Bathrooms will have calcium build-up in showers and bathtubs, unless they are scrubbed regularly. Again, if the build-up is difficult to remove, use vinegar or CLR to dissolve it. If your shower head has white build-up blocking the water flow, soak it in vinegar for a few minutes.
