UAE | Health
At a glance: Potable water in the UAE
Tap water from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is desalinated water mixed with a small percentage of natural water, said Abdullah Al Hajri, senior corporate communications manager and occupational health and safety.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:04 August 18, 2007
- Tap water is potable at the source, however, pipes within a building and from the treatment plant can be old or dirty.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Tap water from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is desalinated water mixed with a small percentage of natural water, said Abdullah Al Hajri, senior corporate communications manager and occupational health and safety.
"Bottled water comes from two sources. The natural sources, such as mountains and springs, count for a small percentage of the origin and the rest is desalinated water.
"The only difference between bottled water and tap water is the way it is stored. If I poured you bottled water in a dirty glass would you drink it? No. We recommend the cleaning of water tanks but most people don't do that and prefer to depend on clean water from bottles rather than their tank," said Al Hajri.
"Tap water here is not substandard. It is very high standard but the way it is stored makes all the difference. It is cleaned following the World Heath Organisation standards," he said.
Statistics
Masafi water is the best seller in consumer packs of five litres and less based on sales from supermarkets, self service outlets, large and small groceries, and petrol station convenience stores.
However, brands like Oasis have a much stronger presence in Direct to Home sales with bigger packs.
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