the message board for Dubai English speaking community
craigindubai wrote:I hear the argument about the water "hardness" and yes, the pipes can add particulate to teh water (As can the pipes in the factories that produce water). But I'm not seeing any reason as to why the water is bad for you.
Dry as Dust wrote:The water put into supply by DEWA is perfectly safe to drink.
However the water coming out of your tap may or may not be. The problem is that whether you live in an apartment or villa the water will probably have been stored in a ground or roof tank on its way to your tap. The quality of the water coming out of your tap is highly dependent on how well these tanks have been constructed and are maintained.
I would strongly recommend against drinking the tap water directly, unless you know categorically that any storages between you and the water mains are well constructed and well looked after.
I am a water engineer
Dry as Dust wrote:No - I have no financial advantage to gain whether you drink tap water, bottled water or Stella.
craigindubai wrote:I just find it amazing how people purchase bottled water purely, as far as I can see, because of the clever marketing of the suppliers. If I had of said to you 15 years ago that you would pay $2AUD for 500ml of water in any westernised/developed country in the world, I would of been laughed out of town. Now look at us.
craigindubai wrote:I just find it amazing how people purchase bottled water purely, as far as I can see, because of the clever marketing of the suppliers. If I had of said to you 15 years ago that you would pay $2AUD for 500ml of water in any westernised/developed country in the world, I would of been laughed out of town. Now look at us.
dubaidog wrote:No question the water here makes your hair fall out!!
craigindubai wrote:Can anyone give me an honest reason why we should be buying bottled water here in Dubai? The water supply here is (To the best of my knowledge) treated by reverse osmosis. A processs that passes sea water through organic filters that removes contaminents and solida >1 micron. Effectively, it removes all bacteria and particulate. So why are people banging on my door every second night selling me bottled water??? In most cases, treated through the same process at their own factory! WTF is going on here?
Dry as Dust wrote:Sage - there is absolutely no logic in your response.
Boiling will not reduce TDS.
Boiling for long enough will kill bacteria.
I agree the water in the mains is bacteriologically safe. However - the water at your tap may not be.
arniegang wrote:Boiling does nothing to affect the putrid taste of the water.
Dry as Dust wrote:Re drinking the tap water - the expression "educating pork" springs to mind - although probably inappropriate in a muslim country.
I repeat what I said earlier - unless you are absolutely certain that any storages between the water main and your tap are well constructed and well maintained then don't drink the tap water. If you do you are risking your health.
As to cost - a 20 litre bottle costs between Dh6 and Dh10 depending on where you get it from. Hardly going to break the bank! Maybe a bit expensive to wash your hair with.
craigindubai wrote:I guess I really started this thread because I wanted to know if there was any real reason not to drink the tap water. I don't see any of the previous statements providing anything but speculation as to why the water is unfit for human consumption.