DOHA: Only 30 percent of the local population regularly drink tap water, reveals a Qatar Foundation (QF) study that has reconfirmed the high quality of tap water in the country.
The “tap water versus bottled water” study, conducted by QF’s Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) found that tap water in Qatar is as safe as bottled water, either locally produced or imported brands.
QEERI experts have, however, cautioned against the danger of exposing bottled water to sun and extreme heat.
Heat and sun exposure weaken the plastic bottle and can release chemicals, such as antimony and lead, from the container into the drinking water. Both of these elements have been shown to have negative effects on health, including cardiovascular effects, if consumed over a prolonged period of time.
“The quality of Qatar’s drinking water is very high, higher than many local consumers think,” said Nora Kuiper, a leading researcher on the project at QEERI.
“The real take away message is that tap water in the country is just as safe as bottled water, either locally produced or imported brands,” added Candace Rowell, a fellow researcher working on this project.
QEERI scientists used advanced analytical tools to study 113 tap water and 62 bottled water samples collected across Qatar. All samples were analyzed for elemental content and volatile compounds.
“We interviewed people in their homes to get an idea of what people were drinking and why. We needed to understand how local residents feel about Qatar’s drinking water,” explained Rowell.
The answers were clear, only about 30 percent of the local population regularly drinks tap water, most people prefer to drink bottled water. QEERI said that Qatar’s tap and bottled water conform to the quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
Guidelines exist for trace elements (such as lead and arsenic) and organic compounds (such as benzene) that may cause negative health outcomes or affect the taste or odour of water.
All tap and bottled water in Qatar is safe to drink, but some imported water has higher concentrations of tested parameters such as arsenic (average concentration in imported water = 0.62 parts-per-billion (ppb)); and chromium (1.04 ppb) than the locally produced tap and bottled water.
This is likely because imported water comes from natural freshwater sources that can contain naturally occurring elements, such as arsenic, present in different types of rock or sediment and can leach into the drinking water source.
However, the levels observed in imported water brands in Qatar are still much lower than the health- based guidelines for drinking water. Guideline values for arsenic and chromium are 10 ppb and 100 ppb, respectively.
The QEERI team also studied how people’s behaviour can influence the quality of their water. Heat and UV radiation (from the sun) can have a real impact on bottled water. Plastic bottled water containers are safe to use for storing and holding your drinking water, but they should be protected from sun and extreme heat.
“Bottles should be carefully protected from these conditions to protect the health of the nation. This is as simple as not leaving bottled water in a car during the summer months,” said a QEERI statement.
QEERI, a member of Qatar Foundation, is leading the nation’s efforts towards the National Water Security Grand Challenge, which includes projects related to desalination and treatment technologies, water quality and exposure, among other research topics. The Peninsula
