Authority for Public Services Regulation - Resolution No. 90/2025 determining the specifications and quality standards for non-bottled drinking water.

This Resolution, consisting of 11 articles, stipulates that all individuals engaged in the activities it governs must comply with the approved Gulf Standard Specification (GSO 111:1989) for the collection of samples intended for testing. The Resolution sets out both general and specific water quality requirements. As for the general requirements, Article 3 requires all water operators to ensure that water is (i) free from substances affecting color, odor, or taste and contains no visible impurities; (ii) treated using methods sufficient to eliminate microbes; (iii) maintains an appropriate residual free chlorine level at the point of consumption; and (iv) complies with the microbiological standards in Article 5. The specific requirements further stipulate that water must be completely free of algae, fungi, parasites, insects, worms, their eggs, larvae, cysts, body parts, and protozoa, and must be safe and free from pathogens, fecal microbes, and harmful bacteria. Water supplied through networks, groundwater sources, or independent carriers must consistently meet these strict microbiological standards to prevent contamination. Additionally, water radioactivity remains within safe limits. If levels exceed the standard, a detailed analysis of each radioactive nuclide must be performed according to the Authority’s radiological controls and guidelines. Other standards set by the Authority (and published on its website) include water quality during emergencies, network water standards, standards for desalinated water, and limits related to water’s tendency to cause scaling or corrosion in pipes and equipment. The Authority may grant exemptions from certain standards when necessary and upon justified request. Violations are subject to the penalties specified in Article 11.