Inspiring Climate Action Since 2009
As a part of our sustainable lifestyle, we prefer local food and local water. But if you are thinking local bottled water, then no, we drink filtered tap water at home to beat plastic pollution. And now that we are talking about water, how about getting some tips about how to conserve water?
The best part is, thanks to the tap water filter, I could get rid off all plastic bottles in my life for good and the hassle of storing and then recycling plastic water bottles. As part of our social campaign #ZeroWasteUAE, I carry my stainless steel reusable water bottle everywhere, which I fill up at home with filtered tap water.
So for going Zero Waste in UAE or even for simple healthy living, a tap water filter is Sustainability Tribe’s top-rated product, a must-have in UAE! Any plastic bottle (5 gallon or small 0.5 liters) and even a BPA-free bottle, once get exposed to extreme heat in UAE and there is always a big risk of chemicals leaching in drinking water, which makes water not safe to drink.
Now as we all know UAE has one of the highest plastic bottled water consumption per capita in the world, 259.7 liters in 2007, according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, a US consultancy. UAE’s Recycling giant Beeah has estimated each resident uses up to 450 plastic water bottles a year. Out of these plastic bottles, 80% of water bottles are not recycled. So now imagine how much plastic waste we create just by drinking bottled water in the UAE. Even if we achieve 100% of recycling, which will take many years to come in reality but the fact is plastic has a limitation on recycling. Within a few recycling cycles, we end up getting a product which can not be used further for any application.
Especially when tap water in Dubai is completely safe to drink and is of one of the better quality water in the world, Sustainability Tribe has confirmed with DEWA during an event last year. Only when the DEWA water enters our buildings or villas, that’s where it gets contaminated, as the water tanks & plumbing is not maintained to keep the water quality intact. That is why we need a water filter and this filtered tap water is completely safe to drink & even less toxic than bottled water.
There are many water filters in the market. First, I tried a countertop water filter, which was a multistage tap water filter which includes Carbon block filter cartridge & UV Filter Lamp. However, this kind of water filter takes up counter space in my kitchen and so I tried another one.
Under the sink water filter is really very easy to use. The filter assembly is installed under the sink, most of this space was anyways getting wasted. So I am happy my kitchen space is not compromised. Only a small slick tap is installed on the sink, which quickly gives room temperature filtered clean water. A totally fuss-free system. The regular filter cleaning and maintenance are provided by the company who installed this filter for us.
For me, natural, pure water is supposed to be tasteless, odorless & we should feel the freshness of the water after drinking it. This last part is always missing in plastic bottled water, I never feel that freshness & then feel like drinking cold water just to feel fresh & energetic. I am sure some of you can relate to what I am saying. But since I am drinking filtered tap water, all my complaints about water taste are gone, this water is just perfect! Tasteless, odorless & fresh (or at least freshly filtered).
Instead of buying water which comes from far off countries with a lot of carbon footprint, I prefer making my own drinkable water. When people talk about sustainable living, we focus mainly on local food, but I say you can start living sustainably in UAE only if you drink local water without plastic bottles.
You might like to read, where we like to pick local vegetables in the UAE. We even grow our own vegetables and herbs in our balcony garden.
Now learn about the next natural step in sustainable living, how to go zero waste.
Amruta Kshemkalyani, an expert sustainability professional turned social entrepreneur, is the founder of the Sustainability Tribe, AK Sustainability
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Thank you for the recommendation. We have been looking for one and would consider this.
I am glad you found the review useful Abigail!
I like that idea of using a filter.
Fantastic, glad to hear that Mafaza!
That’s great! We have a water filter system too, attached to our kitchen tap pipe, so we use the filtered water for drinking as well as cooking, and any other water uses around the house. It’s great, and I am so glad we made the switch to filtered water to reduce bottle usage.
It’s amazing how people like you are mindful and take efforts to make such switch. Thanks for sharing your water filter experience Zeyna!
it would be better if you update the information, other than that the information is pretty good!
🙂