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ewmoda

Would you drink tap water here?

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414

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 12:22

Technically there is nothing wrong with Dubai water, it just tastes horrible! I cook with it, but can't drink the tea made with tap water. Again, 'technically' you are right that when it leaves the plant it probably is ok to drink. Those of you who do drink with it, cook in it etc...do you regularly check or clean your storage tank? Do you know the state of the pipes in your villa/area? Having seen what I saw, I could never in a bazillion years drink it... just wondering how you're so confident that it's safe? yes, I have seen our tank in the ranches more then few times, due to the repairs.No gunk, or dead stuff, or anything out of ordinary...never been sick or got water related illness., no hair fall(other then what is considered normal and seasonal) or any members of my family.We are cooking, cleaning, bathing, showering, brushing teeth, drinking tea and coffee with tap water. we are in the new place(brand new villa) so far no issues either.

648

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 12:20

Its not worth the risk when bottled water is so cheap. Tap water in the UAE has been rated safe to drink but only as long as tanks and pipes storing and bringing water to the home are clean and in good condition, said Dubai's utilities company, as there is a high risk of corrosion and contamination. We nevertheless recommend that customers periodically ensure that the water tanks in their homes and buildings are cleaned on a regular basis. Over time, residue and mold can accumulate in the water tanks, thus rendering the tap water harmful. Cleaning the water tanks regularly can overcome this problem," she said in a statement to Gulf News. "Another factor that can impact the quality of water is the quality of pipes used, as possibilities are immense for corrosion and contamination of water, especially when pipe materials are substandard

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 11 October 2011 - 12:09

Technically there is nothing wrong with Dubai water, it just tastes horrible! I cook with it, but can't drink the tea made with tap water. Again, 'technically' you are right that when it leaves the plant it probably is ok to drink. Those of you who do drink with it, cook in it etc...do you regularly check or clean your storage tank? Do you know the state of the pipes in your villa/area? Having seen what I saw, I could never in a bazillion years drink it... just wondering how you're so confident that it's safe?

2392

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 17:23

Technically there is nothing wrong with Dubai water, it just tastes horrible! I cook with it, but can't drink the tea made with tap water.

Princess_I45169

1953

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 15:06

Nope - issues not only with the quality of tap water but also the stroage tanks, piping etc.

178

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 15:03

Same fears as Sanddy. I wouldn't drink it.

5499

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 15:02

I don't have a problem with the water quality here but I'm a bit dubious about the pipes and the underground tank in my garage.

341

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 15:00

Didn't they spend like MILLIONS on the desalination plant ?? we started to when we first got here but we kept getting an upset stomach.. now we only buy Nestle as its low sodium .. I do use tap water for cooking - potatoes , veg but not pasta or rice .... but then on a trip to Oman we stopped to watch the Salt being dredged and they gave us bags and bags of the stuff so now the sea salt covers up the taste of the tap water .. I think I am right ... DH always says I am right ...but I think sea salt is better than Sodium refined salt that you get ..

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 14:52

I never ever drink it, but i cook with it, brush my teeth, wash veggies etc... I think it`s safe for you if you boil it. Stubborn DH drinks it just to prove me wrong.

471

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 14:47

[b'>when you go to a restaurant or bar - do they use tap water for ice and cooking?[/b'> i personally believe they use tap water so no need to at home. plus if anything else it builds up the immune system!!! I always tell them ''no ice'', i believe that most places use tap water to make ice.

502

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 14:45

I've always boiled stuff in salted tap water but drink bottled.

Princess Char38446

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 14:43

when you go to a restaurant or bar - do they use tap water for ice and cooking? i personally believe they use tap water so no need to at home. plus if anything else it builds up the immune system!!!

182

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 14:28

We only drink bottled water, but I cook, make tea/coffee, and brush teeth with the tap water. If you boil the tap water, all the bacteria dies anyway. Not sure about washing fruit/veg?? Does anone soak the veg in some special solution (water and vinegar???), I cannot remember.

277

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:24

No . I don't drink and i don't cook with it .

927

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:24

I have lived here over 20 years and have never used the tap water for drinking / cooking/ ice cubes. When I first came here the compound thatI lived on used to double chlorinate the water tanks - tap water smelt just like the swimming pool. Then over the years I have seen enough water tanks and their contents to put me right off.. dead birds etc to say nothing of the pipes. The story in the paper a few weeks back of the poor dead man in the water tank for 3 days - unbeknowst to the building residents who kept on drinking and cooking with the water just confirmed it all for me. Never will I drink the tap water here no mater how "safe" it is. I also reckon that if the desalinated water does such terrible things to our hair what effect does it have when we drink it as well? ETA and what about the Legionnaires baccilli that they have found here in water systems? <em>edited by Genie on 09/10/2011</em>

1692

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:20

The vet told me to make sure I didn't give the dogs tap water because of a parasitic worm that can be found in it... So based on that little gem no we don't drink tap water.

60

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:20

I would not drink tap water, I'll buy a filter for the shower too because my hair is terrible after a few years of shower.

2362

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:13

The tap water is perfectly safe to drnk here, it's just a matter of choice. It may be safe when it leaves the treatment facility, but there's no was I'd drink it after seeing inside the water tanks on our villas!! Dead birds and rats anyone? Inch thick layer of goo perhaps? Eeeeww! agreed - filled up a vase for flowers last week and my water STILL runs yellow for the first minute or so. as i live in an apartment block not sure how i would check the tank, but it doesn't look good.

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:08

The tap water is perfectly safe to drnk here, it's just a matter of choice. It may be safe when it leaves the treatment facility, but there's no was I'd drink it after seeing inside the water tanks on our villas!! Dead birds and rats anyone? Inch thick layer of goo perhaps? Eeeeww!

1336

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 11:04

The only thing to watch is how much sodium is in the bottled water, apparently it can be quite high.

frenchfamily42384

17

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 10:07

dont do it! Al ain is the best water in terms of mineral content, and hte french waters like volvic or evian are great too. Good luck

414

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 10:06

All the time.

sarahloudxb29364

303

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 09:42

Only to clean teeth. It sounds silly but if someone uses it to make tea/coffee it tastes metallic to me

CupCakeMummy44010

37

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 08:18

DH made me a cup of tea with the tap water when I first arrived in Dubai and it tasted like metal, made me wonder how often the water tanks in our building are cleaned. I cook with it and our family use it to brush our teeth, but we drink bottled water- it's so cheap here anyway.

AdviceSeeker13702

1100

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 07:14

I use tap water for everything but drinking, not because I don't think its safe, but because bottled water is fairly cheap and tastes better.

210

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 October 2011 - 01:40

Been here over six years now and, before that, holidayed for ten plus years. When on holiday never had a problem drinking cold water from the tap, cleaning teeth etc. Since we moved here we use tap water to clean teeth, put in kettle (although the kettle has to be cleaned on a fairly regular basis but we had to do this, too, in the UK), wash fruit and raw vegetables before eating, and in the cooler months, when the water is cold enough, we drink the tap water, too. Never had any problems. Our major use of bottled water (either the 5 gallon bottles for the chiller or the boxes of 24 x half litre bottles) is during the summer. The half litre bottles we give to our pool cleaner, anybody who delivers anything to us, any taxi driver and the guys who do the gardening on the street outside our home, etc. We refill empty bottles for our personal use from the chiller. So, the short answer to your question is "yes'" but only during the winter months when the water is cold enough to drink.

1336

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 08 October 2011 - 23:14

Debbie I thought they still add fluoride afterwards but can't find out wither way, so, I asked the dentist if he knew anything about it.

610

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 08 October 2011 - 23:08

Still cook and fill the kettle from the tap. I believe the ministry of heath says the water is fine but they cant guarantee buildings tanks and pipes. Spot on and same here, cooking, kettle and teeth from the tap, bottled for drinking.

384

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 08 October 2011 - 23:08

We use it for drinking and cooking but have a filter.

77

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 08 October 2011 - 23:08

but that should be the same for tap water as I am assuming after desalinationg it there is nothing in it, right?

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