Tap water is a 100 per cent safe to drink.
At least, that's what the authorities in Dubai have us believe. And now the fine print: while the water may be safe, are the tanks and pipes clean?
Khalid Mohammed Shareef, Assistant Head of the Public Health Department and Head of the Food Control Section, said Dubai Electricity and Water Authority pumps pure water according to Gulf health standards. The municipality monitors the production of drinking water and tests samples.
But people are still sceptical and that explains why the bottled water business is flourishing. Shareef said: "Tap water in Dubai can be drunk, used for cooking, brushing teeth or bathing. The fluoride content is within the limit and it is not salty. There is no need to sterilise or filter the water. But there is a need to raise people's awareness to keep water tanks clean.
"People must realise the importance of cleaning water tanks regularly. Special companies will start cleaning tanks. Unexpected visits will be paid to ensure safety standards are met.
"The municipality last year started inspecting tanks in hotels, restaurants and factories. During the ongoing second phase, residential buildings and schools will be inspected. Random samples of water are taken from schools for testing. Public health is our main concern."
A senior Dubai Municipality official has given an assurance that he and his family drink only tap water, without even filtering it. But many residents, not completely convinced, prefer bottled water. Some do drink tap water after filtering it.
Najm, an Indian, said he only drinks bottled water because he believes tap water is salty and unhealthy. Afkar Ali from Pakistan said he knows tap water is safe in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but it is heavily chlorinated. "I drink tap water here, but I avoid it in other emirates."
As in Ajman for instance. A senior official from the Ajman Electricity and Water Authority said tap water cannot be drunk for several reasons, the primary being water tanks are not cleaned. "Most water tanks in Ajman buildings do not comply with health standards. They are rarely cleaned or inspected by Ajman Municipality.
"Water pipes are old and dirty and need replacement. Water is very salty, exceeding Gulf standards, and even filtering doesn't help. In fact, the water cannot be used even for cooking."
Awad Mohammad Ahmad, Acting Director of the Ajman Central Laboratory for Food Control, said the laboratory ensures bottled water and water supplied by companies is safe. Regular inspections are carried out. Most of them have different sources such as Al Dhaid, the water authority and Al Zawra water desalination plant among others.
Private water suppliers
Javed, a Pakistani, says he's been living in Ajman for more than 20 years and water quality has not improved. There are more than 30 private drinking water suppliers and he buys from them.
Naushad Ahmad who works at the Al Bayan Purification and Potable Water Company in Dubai, said they get water from Dubai Aluminum and purify it following GCC standards. "Every week we send samples to the food control section at the municipality for testing."
The Dubai Government has issued licences to only 35 companies to distribute water in the country. Ahmad said there are some who remove labels from bottles of a well-known company, fill them with water and then sell, ignoring public health concerns.
Another drinking water supplier in Ajman said some sell bottled water without any label and people from these companies hawk their products in small vans. "People refuse to drink tap water, but do not hesitate to buy from fake companies."
Water can get contaminated through municipal sewage; pesticides and fertilisers from agricultural fields; animal waste from farms; industrial pollution from factories; mining waste; hazardous waste sites and spills and leaks of petroleum products and industrial chemicals.
Dubai Municipality says to ensure drinking water is safe reservoirs and wells must be protected from pollution, pipes must be well-maintained and modern treatment facilities must be installed.
However, according to Hassan Saeed Al Kathiri, Chairman of the Emirates Society for Consumer Protection, tap water can be both safe and unsafe depending on the safety measures carried out by the authorities and consumers.
"The main concern here is whether water storage facilities are kept hygienic. It is the responsibility of the authorities to provide clean water to consumers, and similarly it is the responsibility of consumers to ensure that water is stored in clean tanks."
Al Kathiri advised residential and commercial building managements and the public to regularly check water tanks. "Both underground and roof-top tanks should be checked and cleaned at least thrice a year. If the tanks and supply lines are kept clean, tap water can be drunk, provided the supplying authorities maintain their standards."
Another concern relates to people living in houses and villas who leave for long holidays. "When they return from their holidays, say after two or three months, they start using tank water, which has probably been contaminated with some kind of bacteria."
Al Kathiri said the tank should be emptied and refilled with fresh water. "The water that has been lying stagnant for a month could be used to water trees and plants to prevent wastage."
Awareness campaign
People should look for an abnormal alteration in water, such as change of colour, smell or taste and immediately report the matter to the authorities.
About using filters, Al Kathiri said it is not always good to use them. He said the filters can affect clean water coming from the main source. He advised consumers to go for good quality filters and regularly check them. "It is also advisable to change them regularly."
Al Kathiri said it is not clear, which organisation or authority is responsible for the inspection of water tanks in commercial and residential buildings. He said there has to be regular inspections of water tanks.
A campaign must be held to educate consumers on dangers related to unhygienic water and how to secure healthy water. "We need collective responsibilities and measures to ensure the availability of clean and healthy water."
However, he added, more responsibility lies with consumers to check and maintain the entire water supply network and tanks in their premises.
Al Kathiri also urged the government to update the rules on water supply and consumption.He said: "If you look at building and villa rooftops, you will see many old water tanks covered with dust. You will also see tanks with their lids open, or some with cracks. These tanks, particularly those with their lids open, are like time bombs and can cause huge health problems. Therefore, there must be regular inspections to ensure that these tanks are fit to store drinking water."
He said there is also a wrong impression that tanks in the country are safe and cannot be contaminated due to the hot weather.
"It is wrong to say that our water is safe because of the high temperatures. High heat can crack tanks, which allow particles to enter. Germs and fungus can also develop in the cracks, which gradually contaminate the water. It is better to cover tanks from strong heat and protect them from dust and other particles."
Mike Brook from the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda) said it is the responsibility of consumers and building managements to keep underground and rooftop water tanks hygienic.
"If source water meets Abu Dhabi Drinking Water Standards (year 2000) and the transmission and storage facilities for the water are hygienic, then there should be no problem. Problems can arise, though, if tanks are dirty and contain bacteria."
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