Dubai tap water is safe when supplied by DEWA, but once it enters storage tanks and internal pipes inside buildings, quality can change.
For babies, pregnant women, elderly people, and families who prioritize long-term safety and low sodium, purified 5-gallon bottled water—like My Desert Spring (<4 mg/L sodium, 7.1 pH)—is the safer, more controlled choice.
A Story All UAE Families Can Relate To
If you’ve lived in Dubai long enough, you’ve probably asked this question at least once:
“Can I drink water straight from the tap?”
Many new residents are surprised when they see people brushing teeth with tap water, cooking with it, filling kettles—or even drinking from the faucet.
But then you talk to parents in school groups or neighbors in your building, and they say: “We don’t drink tap water for the kids.”
“It depends on the tank.”
“We only use 5-gallon water.”
So, what’s the truth?
Let’s break it down clearly, especially from a family safety perspective.
How Is Dubai Tap Water Treated by DEWA?
Dubai uses advanced desalination systems—RO, MSF, chlorination, and remineralisation—to produce safe drinking water that meets WHO standards.
Imagine the water journey…
Before you open your kitchen tap, the water has already gone through one of the world’s most advanced purification systems:
1️⃣ Seawater Intake & Pre-Filtration
Water enters from the Arabian Gulf and is filtered to remove sand, algae, and fine debris.
2️⃣ Reverse Osmosis (RO) & Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) Desalination
Dubai combines both leading technologies:
RO: Removes salts through microscopic membranes
MSF: Heats water to produce pure vapor
These processes strip the water of nearly all impurities.
3️⃣ Remineralisation
A calculated amount of minerals like magnesium and calcium is added back for stability.
4️⃣ Chlorination
A safe, regulated chlorine dose ensures water stays protected inside long city pipelines.
5️⃣ Delivery to Buildings
DEWA delivers clean, high-quality water right to your building.
Up to this point, the water is safe and compliant with global drinking standards.
But the journey is not over.
Why Does Tap Water Become Unsafe Inside Buildings?
Tanks and internal pipes inside buildings can introduce sediment, rust, bacteria, or stagnation.
Most Dubai families don’t worry about DEWA water.
They worry about the building.
And they are right to.
1️⃣ Storage Tanks — where the real problem begins
Each building has rooftop or underground tanks.
If these tanks aren’t cleaned properly, they can accumulate:
- Rust
- Sediment
- Microbial growth
- Dirt from old coatings
- Stagnant water
Some buildings clean tanks every 6 months.
Some clean once a year.
Some… never.
You don’t see what’s inside, so you can’t know.
2️⃣ Internal Pipes Can Be Old or Corroded
Inside buildings, water travels through:
- Old metal pipes
- Hidden vertical shafts
- Apartment-level plumbing
Over years, these pipes can accumulate:
- Rust
- Corrosion flakes
- Microbial film
- Deposits
None of this is DEWA’s fault—it’s a building maintenance issue.
3️⃣ Legionella & Bacterial Risks
If water sits warm for long in neglected tanks, bacteria like Legionella can multiply.
Infants, elderly people, and individuals with weaker immunity are more vulnerable.
4️⃣ Chlorine Breaks Down Inside Tanks
Chlorine protects water in DEWA pipelines, but inside building tanks, it slowly fades, losing disinfecting power.
Is It Safe to Drink Dubai Tap Water Every Day?
Safe in new communities; risky in older buildings or where tank cleaning is infrequent.
Here’s the clear breakdown:
✔ Safe for daily use in
- New villas
- Well-maintained residential communities
- Buildings with frequent tank cleaning
❌ Not ideal for
- Babies
- Pregnant women
- Elderly people
- Buildings older than 10–15 years
- Anyone with kidney or heart concerns
❌ Avoid if your building:
- Has irregular tank cleaning
- Has old plumbing
- Has reported issues with water smell/colour
Families choose bottled water as a safer, stable, and predictable option for everyday drinking.
What Is Inside Dubai Tap Water (TDS, Sodium, Chlorine)?
TDS 70–120 mg/L, controlled chlorine, and sodium levels higher than low-sodium bottled water.
TDS Levels
Dubai’s tap water TDS typically ranges from 70–120 mg/L—safe, but tank-dependent.
Chlorine Levels
Chlorine is present (for safety), but may reduce inside storage tanks.
Sodium Levels
Tap water sodium is often higher than what families prefer for infants or elderly members.
My Desert Spring has <4 mg/L sodium, making it one of the lowest-sodium water brands in the UAE.
Family Perspective: Why This Matters
Parents often choose bottled water because they want:
Predictability
Stability
Zero risk from old tanks
Safe hydration for kids
This is not fear—it’s care.
And it’s valid.
Does Boiling Tap Water Remove All Risks?
Boiling removes bacteria but does not remove chlorine, sodium, dissolved solids, or sediment.
Boiling helps only with microbes.
It does NOT remove:
- Chlorine
- Sodium
- Rust
- TDS
- Deposits from tanks
- Pipe contaminants
- Plastic microparticles
So boiling is not a full purification method
Do Filters Fully Purify Tap Water in Dubai?
Basic filters are not enough. RO filters help but require heavy maintenance.
❌ Basic Filters
Do NOT remove:
- Sodium
- Heavy metals
- Stagnant tank contamination
✔ RO Filters
Remove:
- TDS
- Sodium
- Many dissolved solids
BUT…
❌ Need maintenance
❌ Can grow bacteria
❌ Costly over time
Families often choose purified bottled water because it’s simple and consistent.
Why Do UAE Families Prefer Bottled Water or Delivered Water Over Tap?
It avoids tank-related risks, offers low sodium, and provides controlled purification.
Emotional Family Reasoning:
Parents choose bottled water because it gives them:
Peace of mind
Predictability
No tank-related worry
Safety for their children
It’s not a luxury.
It’s a choice made with care.
My Desert Spring – Why Families Trust It
Low-sodium (<4 mg/L), balanced minerals, 7.1 pH, DEWA source, certified purification.
My Desert Spring (MDS) has become one of the trusted drinking water suppliers in the UAE for 3 reasons:
✔ Purification
MDS uses multi-stage purification including:
- Micro-filtration
- Reverse Osmosis
- UV disinfection
- Ozonation
- Mineral balancing
✔ Certifications
- ESMA
- HACCP
- ISO
- Dubai Municipality compliance
✔ Water Quality
- pH: 7.1
- Sodium: <4 mg/L
- TDS: 100–130 ppm
- Total Hardness: 59
Complete My Desert Spring Mineral Composition
Anions
- Bicarbonate: 9.7 mg/L
- Sulphate: 30.1 mg/L
- Chloride: 33 mg/L
- Fluoride: <0.025 mg/L
- Nitrate: 0.01 mg/L
- Carbonate: <1 mg/L
Cations
- Calcium: 21.6 mg/L
- Magnesium: 3.4 mg/L
- Sodium: <4 mg/L
- Potassium: 0.22 mg/L
What Is Low-Sodium Water?
Low-sodium water contains less than 20 mg/L sodium.
My Desert Spring contains <4 mg/L, making it ideal for babies, elderly people, and long-term hydration.
Final Verdict: Should You Drink Tap Water in Dubai?
Dubai tap water is safe at the source but may lose quality inside buildings.
For families, infants, seniors, and daily hydration, purified low-sodium bottled water offers safer and more consistent quality.
Make the Safer Choice for Your Family’s Drinking Water
Dubai tap water is safe at the DEWA source, but building tanks and pipes can affect quality at home. For consistent purity, low sodium, and hygienic 5-gallon supply, choose My Desert Spring — trusted in the UAE since 1998.
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Low Sodium: <4 mg/L (ideal for kids & elderly)
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pH Balanced: 7.1 for daily hydration
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Certified Quality: ESMA, HACCP & ISO
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Hygienic Process: 10-stage automated bottle cleaning
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Reliable 5-Gallon Supply for homes & offices
Ready to switch to safer hydration today?
📍 My Desert Spring Pure Water LLC
Al Qusais Ind. Area 5, Dubai, UAE
📞 +971 52 526 6116
📞 800 637
Healthy hydration starts here