Is this spring safe to drink from?
Sorgente: sor-JEN-teh. The g before e is soft, like the 's' in 'measure'.
Ask before drinking from any natural spring or stream. Mountain springs in Italy are often safe, but pastoral areas where animals graze can have contamination risk.
Sicura agrees with sorgente (feminine). Da bere means 'to drink' — it follows sicura to mean 'safe for drinking'. A simple and very practical construction.
L'acqua è potabile?
Is the water drinkable?
Potabile is the official term — look for 'acqua potabile' signs at fountains.
C'è un ruscello più avanti?
Is there a stream further ahead?
Useful for planning water stops.
Devo usare le pasticche purificanti?
Do I need to use purification tablets?
Pasticche purificanti — water purification tablets.
Italy has a cultural reverence for spring water (acqua sorgiva). Villagers who know local springs will guide you to the best ones with pride. A spring with a stone trough and overflowing pipe attached to a wall (fontanella) is almost always safe in inhabited mountain areas.