Dubai: Water in Dubai supplied by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is safe to drink, Dewa assured the public on Tuesday.
Dewa’s assurance follows a report by a publication on Monday that German International School, located in Dubai International Academic City, had closed on Monday after Legionnaires’ disease-causing bacteria was found in the water.
A senior Dubai Municipality official, as reported by Gulf News, denied the report on Monday. He said incorrect information was given to a section of the media by some parents, and not by the school.
Redha Salman, director of the municipality’s health and safety department, said: “There is no Legionnaire’s disease in any school and we are not aware of such an incident.”
Dewa, for its part, said that the potable water supplied in its network is in full compliance with international potable water standards and latest World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality.
“Dewa would like to reiterate that our water quality across the generation, transmission, and distribution networks meets the highest health and safety standards set by WHO. Dewa took samples from the water network before the meter and found it clear of any contamination or bacteria and the results were conveyed to the school,” the official statement read.
Dewa said their responsibility is to provide safe and healthy water up to the meter. Customers or building owners are responsible for the water supply within their compound after the meter.
“It is the responsibility of the customer or owner and the maintenance companies to carry out regular maintenance of the internal networks and water tanks after the meter and to ensure that health and safety standards are met.”
