Water Quality of water coolers and dispensing machines in AlQurayyat, Al-Jouf Region, KSA-current status and future aspirations

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the quality of selected samples of AlSabeel water, which has been widely spread in AlQurayyat, northern KSA in recent years. The present study aims also to throw light on the precautions that must be followed in order to maintain human health and public safety. Moreover, the present study aims to describe the risk factors affecting such great humanitarian service. Field trips in the streets and visits to governmental institutions and public organizations of AlQurayyat revealed that there are 230 large coolers and 70 small ones. About 95% of the large coolers are located on the side of the main streets. These coolers are abundant in the car repair workshop region. The majority (70%) of AlSabeel water units in AlQurayyat was connected to iron tanks, while the remainder (30%) was connected to plastic or polyethylene tanks. The carrying capacity of the storage tanks of the bottled dispensers was up to 20 L, while that of the large coolers was up to two cubic meters. A total of 46 (20%) of the large coolers show sources of contamination, with approximately one third of these coolers were out of service. In contrast, all the small cooler are working in a proper manner. The sanitary conditions of the street coolers were poor. The pH values were located on the weak alkaline scale and the total dissolved solids comply with the recommendations of WHO and SASO organizations. Out of 9 examined water samples, only one sample was contaminated with bacteria.