Dubai warns residents over drinking water

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 3:13 AM

Consumers in the United Arab Emirates have been advised to exercise caution when drinking tap or bottled water.

The warning comes from the Dubai government’s Food and Environment Laboratory, which on Monday said that most cases of water contamination came from poorly maintained water pipes inside homes and other buildings.

It said the growth of minute germs and flora in water was the main cause of microbiological contamination, making water unsuitable for human consumption.

The laboratory said although bottled water did not need to be given the same scrutiny as tap water, consumers should still be aware of certain signs such as whether the bottle was intact and sealed before opening, whether the bottle was clean in the neck area, and that the water was clear and transparent with no impurities or flaws.

However, the laboratory, which tests samples of both tap and bottled water, said both types of water were generally drinkable.

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Posted by: David Hall Wednesday, 17 December 2008 10:50 AM[UAE] - Australia

Yes I worked in James Hardies with asbestos pipes, I only drink filtered water I haven't drunk tap water unfiltered in 20 yrs. I'm now a professional firefighter and concerned, as when you see a burst main and water gushing out, its because there is no pipe, they wear away over the years & Asbestos FLOWS TO EVERYONE!, We collapse them when we draw water to fight a fire.

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Posted by: F. Sheikh Thursday, 24 July 2008 7:36 PM[UAE]

That apart, we still see Asbestos Cement pipes being laid. In many countries, including those of the GCC, these have been banned as they are considered a health hazard.

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Posted by: Wilhelm Niederhauser Tuesday, 22 July 2008 11:32 AM[UAE] - UAE

I am not surprised about the growth of bacteria and flora in water pipes. In Europe, PVC pipes and PPR pipes are materials of the past. They have a fairly rough inner surface, which leads to scale build up and bacteria. Most new installations in Europe use multilayer composite pipes, which have an ultra smooth surface, preventing scale build up. Unfortunately in UAE there is an absence of proper regulations, therefore contractors tend to use the cheapest materials available.

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