Potable

Safe and suitable for people to drink.

Reach for it when making a precise safety claim about water or another liquid

After laboratory testing, the hillside spring was declared potable.

• playful

  drink-worthy

  for an informal judgment that includes palatability

  not when Drink-worthy is not a safety standard and should never replace testing.

• everyday

  drinkable

  when plain language should confirm that a liquid can be consumed

  not when Drinkable can also mean merely tolerable in taste and may not certify safety.

• everyday

  safe to drink

  if an unmistakable public instruction matters more than brevity

  not when Safe to drink is clear but cannot serve every compact technical label.

• professional

  treated

  if a process has been applied to improve water quality

  not when Treated water is not automatically potable unless the treatment succeeded.

• formal

  wholesome

  when water is healthful and free from harmful contamination

  not when Wholesome is old-fashioned for water and can suggest moral goodness elsewhere.

• nonpotable
• contaminated
• undrinkable

• potable water

  Each shelter stored enough potable water for three days.

• make water potable

  Boiling alone may not make water potable when some chemicals are present.

• potable supply

  The new well restored a dependable potable supply to the island.