Water Filtration
I'm not sure I'm following proper Thorn Tree etiquette, but I joined specifically to find an answer to this question:Is using a Brita pitcher sufficient when it comes to household tap water or must I purchase a big water cooler?
I recently moved to Qatar from the US and our Brita pitcher has served us well in years past (of course, we change the filter regularly). Now that I'm in the Middle East, I hear that technically the tap water is safe for consumption, but most people buy a water cooler anyway. I'd rather not deal with the hassle and just stick with Brita. As it is, I have very little space in my kitchen even without a bulky cooler! I emailed Brita and, although I received a lengthy response, they managed not to give me a definitive answer. Please help!
2
The tap water is safe for consumption. It often doesnt taste very good, as #1 said, but its safe.BUT, the water in the tap goes through the water tank system of the building you're living in. If you're in a nice newish building, with reasonable maintenance, then its probably fine, if its a 10 year old building thats getting a bit grubby round the corners, you can probably assume that the water tanks havent had any kind of maintenance since they were installed, and I'd be a bit more hesitant.
4
I've drunk water from the tap in the Gulf countries I've been in (and most other countries too). It might not taste nice if you are not used to it but in Qatar it's safe so your current water filter will be fine.
