Dubai warns residents over drinking water

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.