هيئة التقييس لدول مجمس التعاون لدول الخميج العربية  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
مشروع  رقم :  
 
GSO5/ DS/ ... / 2012 
 
 
مياه الشرب غير المعبأة  
Unbottled drinking water  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
إعداد 
المجنة الفنية الخميجية لقطاع المنتجات الغذائية والزراعية  
 
 
هذه الوثيقة مشروع لمواصفة قياسية خميجية تم توزيعها لإبداء الرأي والممحوظات بشأنها، لذلك فإنها 
عرضة لمتغير والتبديل، ولا يجوز الرجوع  إليها كمواصفة قياسية خميجية إلا بعد اعتمادها من مجمس 
إدارة الهيئة.  
 
 
 
 
ICS:  67.13.06 
تقــديـم 
 
هيئـة التقييس لدول مجمس ال تعـاون لـدول الخمـيج العربيـة هيئـة إقميميـة تضــم فـ  عضـويتها اهجهــزة الوطنيـة 
لممواصــفات والمقــاييس فــ  دول الخمــيج العربيـــة ، ومــن مهــام الهيئـــة إعــداد المواصــفات القياسيـــة الخميجيــة 
بواسطة لجان فنية متخصصـة .  
 
وقـد قامت هيئة التقييس لدول مجمـس التعـاون لدول الخمـيج العربيــة ضـمن برنـامج عمـل المجنـة الفنيـة رقــم  ( 
5  " )المجنــة الفنيـــة الخميجيــة لمواصــفات قطـــاع المنتجــات الغذائيــة والزراعيــة" بتحـــديث المواصــفة القياســية 
الخميجيــة رقـــم 941/9001  "ميــاه الشــرر ايــر المعبــأة" وقامــت المممكــة العربيــة الســعودية بإعــداد مشــروع 
هذه المواصفة .  
 
وقـد اعتمـدت هذه المواصفة كلائحـة فنية خميجية ف  اجتماع مجمـس إدارة الهيئـة رقــم  ( ) الـذي عققــد بتـاري  
    /     /     هـ ، الموافق     /     /       م .  
 
عمى أن تمغ  المواصفة رقم (941 /9001 )وتحل محمها.  
 
 
Foreword  
 
 
Standardization Organization for GCC (GS O) is a regional Organization which consists 
of the National Standard Bodies of GCC member States.  
 
One of GSO main functions is to issue Gulf Standard/ Technical regulation through 
specialized technical committees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the technical progr am of committee TC No: (5) "Technical Gulf 
committee for food and agriculture product standards" has updated the GSO standard 
No. 149/2009 " Unbottled drinking water   "The draft standard has been prepared by 
(State of Qatar).  
 
This standard has been approv ed as Gulf Technical regulation by GSO Board of 
Directors in its meeting No…../………..held on      /      /      H,         /       /       
 
The approved standard will replace  and s uperse de the standard No  .(149/2009) 
 1  
 
Unbottled drinking water  
 
1.      Scop e and field of application:  
 This GSO standard  is concerned with Unbottled drinking water  fit for human                
consumption  
.  
2.      Complementary references:  
  
2.1 GSO 111 "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water - part 1: Sampling"  
2.2  GSO 112: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water – part 2: determination 
of physical properties”.  
2.3 GSO 378: "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water - third part: Routine 
microbiological tests".  
2.4 GSO 818: "Methods of test for drinking  and mineral water – part 15: Non -routine 
microbiological tests".  
2.5 GSO  standards approved concerning methods of test for drinking and mineral 
Water – Chemical tests . 
 
3.    Definitions:  
3.1          Unbottled drinking water  
                   Water fit for human consumption which is supplied to the public through public                                                 
distribution system, or the limited water supply system, or from wells, springs or 
any other water source from surface water sources, u sed for drinking and 
complying with all the specific properties mentioned in this standard.  
3.2  Public distribution system  
                    A system comprising more than 15 connections for supplying the public with  
                    water suitable fo r human consumption, and includes collection, treatment,  
storage and distribution of drinking water from the source to the consumer.  
3.3              Limited water system  
A system for supplying the public with water suitable for human consumption  
and compr ises less than 15 connections.  
3.4  Artesian water : Is water from a well tapping a confined aquifer in which the water 
level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.  
 Artesian water may be collected with the assistance of external force to enha nce the 
natural underground pressure so long as such measures do not alter the physical 
properties, composition, and quality of water.  
3.5  Well water : Is water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the 
ground which taps the water of an a quifer.  
  
 2 3.6  Spring water : The water derived from an underground formation from which water 
flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water shall be collected only at 
the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding th e 
spring. There shall be a natural force causing the water to flow to the surface 
through a natural orifice. The location of the spring shall be identifiable.  
3.7              Surface water  
Collection rain water in valleys, dams, reservoirs or open tanks w hich is collected 
for drinking purposes.  
3.8  Water source : A source of water supply whether it is an artesian well, drilled well, 
a spring, public or private water distribution system or any other source containing 
water suitable for human consumption.  
3.9  Water distribution system public or private : Means of public or private water 
systems providing consumers with tap water suitable for direct consumption.  
 
4.    Treatment requirements:  
4.1         Be a source of water approved by the relevant official  bodies, after work and 
analytical surveys to make sure it is fit for use.  
4.2  treatment  method whether  chemical, physical or heating, singly or in combination, 
shall be sufficient to destroy the microbes. The treated Unbottled drinking water 
shall comply  with biological and microbiological characteristic s according to items 
(5.4),(5.5).  
4.3              Residual free chlorine concentration in treated unbottled drinking water shall be  
sufficient to kill all microbes therein, provided that the residual con centration  
                  free chlorine shall be 0.5 ppm after at least 30 minutes contact time at pH < 8.0.  
4.4             Concentration of chlorine shall be increased in case of epidemic or special  
circumstances according to instructions of the Minis tries of Health or the     
concerned authorities.  
 
5.    Characteristics :  
 The following shall be met in Unbottled drinking water:  
5.1  parameters related to quality:  
5.1.1          Unbottled drinking water should not contain any substances which would affe ct 
                   its color, taste, odour or appearance. It should be free from foreign bodies such  
                   as soil, sand, hair and other substances and impurities which are visible to the  
                   naked eye.  
5.1.2  PH for bottled drinking water shall be range between (6.5-8).  
5.1.3  Total dissolved solids for bottled drinking water shall be between  (100-1000)  ppm.  
5.2              Chemical constituents of health significance in unbottled drinking water shall  
                   be according to Tables No. 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5  
 
 
  
 3 Table No.( 1 ) 
Chemical substance s naturally occurring  in water  
 
Chemical 
substance  Guideline value  Notes  
Inorganic  μg/l mg/l   
Arsenic  10 0.01  
Barium  700 0.7  
Boron  2400  2.4  
chromium  50 0.05 Total chromium  
1Fluoride  1500  1.5  
Manganese   
400 0.4 Affect the 
appearance, taste 
or a dour of the 
water  
Molybdenum  70 0.07  
Selenium  40 0.04  
Uranium  30 0.03  
Organic  μg/l mg/l   
Microcystin -LR 1 0.001   
 
1- Determine the fluoride concentration in unbottled drinking water according to  
          daily atmospheric temperature as follows:  
                          Fluoride concentrate = 0.34 
                                                                  D 
           Where:  
           D = 0.038 + [0.0062 X (daily atmospheric temperature in oC X  9 + 32)]  
                                                                                                                5     
Table No.( 2 )  
Chemical present in water from industrial sources and human dwellings  
 
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Inorganic substances:  
 0.003 3 - Cadmium  
 0.07 70 - Cyanide  
For inorganic 
mercury  0.006 6 - Mercury 
 mg/l μg/l Organic substances:  
 0.01 10 - Benzene 
 0.004 4 - Carbon tetrachloride 
 1 1000 -1,2- Dichlorobenzene  
 
 0.3 300 -1,4- Dichlorobenze ne  
0.03 30 -1,2- Dichloroethane  
 0.05 50 -1,2- Dichloroethene  
 0.02 20 - Dichloromethane   
 4  
 0.008 8 -Di(2- ethylhexyl) 
phthalate  
 
 
 0.05 50 -1,4-Dioxane  
Applies to the free 
acid 0.6 600 - Edetic acid (EDTA)  
 0.3 300 - Ethyl benzene  
 0.0006  0.6 - Hexachlorobutadiene  
 0.2 200 - Nitrilotriacetic acid  
 0.009 9 - Pentachlorophenol  
 0.02 20 - Styrene  
 0.04 
 40 
 - Tetracholoroethene  
 0.7 700 -Toluene  
 0.02 20 - Trichloroethane  
 0.5 500 - Xylenes  
 
 
 
Table No.( 3 )  
Chemicals present in water f rom agricultural activities  
 
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Non pesticide substance : 
Short -term exposure  50 50000  - Nitrate (asNo 3-) 
Short -term exposure  3 3000  - Nitrite (asNo 2-) 
 mg/l μg/l Pesticides used in 
agriculture:  
 0.02 20 - Alachlor  
Applies to aldicarb 
sulfoxide and 
aldicarb sulfone 0.01 10 - Aldicarb  
For combined aldrin 
plus dieldrin 0.00003 0.03 - Aldrine and dieldrin  
 
 
 
 0.1 100 - Atrazine and its chloro -s-
triazine metabolites  
 0.007 7 - Carbofuran  
 0.0002 0.2 - Chlordane   
 5  0.03 30 - Chlorotoluron  
 
 0.03 30 -chlorpyrifos  
 
 0.0006 0.6 - Cyanazine  
Applies to free acid 
 0.03 30 - 2,4 – dichlorophenoxy 
acetic acid  
 0.09 90 2,4Dichlorophenoxybutyric 
acid.  
 0.001 1 - 1,2 - Dibromo - 3 
chloropropane  
 0.0004 0.4 - 1,2 – Dibromoethane  
 0.04 40 - 1,2 - Dichloropropane  
 0.02 20 - 1,3 – Dichloropropene  
 0.1 100 - Dichloroprop  
 0.006 
 6 
 - Dimethoate  
 0.0006 0.6 - Endrin  
 0.009 9 -Fenoprop  
Atrazine metabolite 0.2 200 -Hydroxyatrazine  
 0.009 9 -Isoproturon  
 0.002 2 -Lindane  
 0.002 2 -MCPAd  
 
 0.01 10 -Mecoprop  
 0.02 20 -Methoxychlor  
 0.01 10 -Metolachlor  
 0.006 6 -Molinate  
 0.02 20 -Pendimethalin  
 0.002 2 -Simazine  
 0.009 9 -2,4,5 -Te  
 0.007 7 -Terbuthylazine  
 0.02 20 -Trifluralin  
 
 
 
  
 6 Table No .( 4) 
Chemicals used in water treatment or materials in contact with water  
Notes Guideline value Chemical substance 
 mg/l μg/l Disinfectants: 
For effective disinfection, there 
should be a residual concentration 
of free chlorine of ≥ 0.5 mg/l after  
at lea st 30 min contact time at 
pH< 8.0. A chlorine residual 
should be maintained throughout 
the distribution system. At the 
point of delivery, the minimum 
residual  
concentration of free chlorine 
should be 0.2 mg/l.  5 50000  Chlorine 
 
 3 3000   
Monochloramine 
As sodium 
dichloroisocyanurate  50 50000   
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate 
 As cyanuric acid  40 40000  
 mg/l μg/l Disinfection by products:  
 0.01 10 - Bromate  
 0.06 60 - Bromodichloroethane  
 0.1 100 - Bromoform  
 
 0.7 700 - Chlorate  
0.7 700 - Chlorite  
 0.3 300 - Chloroform  
 0.07 70 - Cyanogen chloride  
 0.07 70 - Di bromoacetonitrile  
 
 0.1 100 - Di bromoc hloromethan  
Applies to free acid 
 0.05 50 - Di chloroacetate  
 0.02 20 - Di chloroacetonitrile  
 0.02 20 - Monochloroacetate  
 
 0.0001 0.1 -N-Nitrosodimethylamine  
 0.2 200 - Tricholoroacetate  
 0.2 200 -2,4,6 - Tricholorophenol  
The sum of the ratio of t he  
concentration of each to its 
respective guideline value should 
not exceed 1   - Trihalomethanes  
  
 7  mg/l μg/l Contaminants from 
treatment chemicals:  
 0.0005 0.5 - Acrylamide  
 
 0.0004 0.4 - Epichlorohydrin  
 
 mg/l μg/l Contaminants from pipes 
and fittings:  
Atrazine metabolite 0.02 20 - Antimony  
 0.0007 0.7 - Benzo (a) pyrene  
Staining of laundry and sanita ry  
Ware may occur below guideline 
valu.  2 2000 - Copper  
 0.01 10 - Lead  
 0.07 70 - Nickel  
 0.0003 03 - Vinylchloride  
 
Table No.( 5 )  
pesticide residues for public health purposes  
 Chemical substance  Guideline value   
 Pesticides used for public healt h 
purposes:  μg/l mg/l   Notes  
 DDT and metabolites  1 0.001   
 
5.3 RADIOLOGICAL ASPECTS  
5.3.1 Must not exceed the concentration of radioactivity of any of the isotopes (natural or 
industrial) alone in drinking water, the values in Table (7).  
Table No (7)  
Radionuclide  
Category  ¹Radionuclide  Dose  
coeffi cient  
(Sv/Bq)  4 Guidance  
level  
(Bq/l)  
²Naturally occurring 
radioactive isotope that 
starts the uranium decay 
seriesc  
   
  
  
  
  
  Uranium -238 4500  3 
Uranium -234 4900  2.8 
Thorium -230 21000  0.7 
Radium -226 28000  0.5 
Lead -210 69000  0.2 
Polonium -210 120000  0.1 
²Naturally occurring 
radioactive isotope that 
starts the thorium decay 
series  
    
 8   
  Thorium -232 23000  0.6 
Radium -228 69000  0.2 
Thorium -228 7200  1.9 
³Artificial radionuclides  
   
  
  
  Caesium -134 1900  7.2 
Caesium -137 1300  10.5 
Strontium -90 2800  4.9 
Iodine -131 2200  6.2 
Another radionuclide  
   
  
  
  
  Tritium  0.002  7610  
Carbon -14 0.058  236 
Plutonium -239 25000  0.5 
Americium -241 20000  0.7 
potassium -40 0.620  22 
 
    1    These isotopes of in terest in drinking water.                                                                      
2   Chains of radioactive isotopes is the most natural presence in groundwater, especially    
isotopes of radium .                                                                                                     
  3  Nuclear fission products resulting from human activities (leakage of nuclear power 
stations or nuclear explosions).                                                                              
4  This maximum, which applies if found alone or should be the total value of any           
radioactive isotope divi ded by the maximum (in the last  
column of the table above) does not exceed one, as shown in  
the equation below :   
Σ  Cі    ≤  1 
                                          GLі 
 
where:  
Ci = the measured activity concentration of radionuclide i, and  
GLі = the guidance level (see Tables 5) of radionuclide i that, at an intake of 2 litres/day1 for 1 
year, will result in an effective dose  of 0.1 mSv/year.  
 
If the total radiation dose ≤ 0.1 mSv per year Vtkon drinking water unfit for consumption, and 
if the total radiation dose <0.1 mSv per year to consider the matter and take corrective action to 
reduce the dose . 
 
 
Chemical toxicity of uranium 15 times more radioactive toxicity, so the element of dissolved 
uranium should not exceed 30 parts per billion or micrograms per liter of drinking water . 
 
 5.3.2 Must not exceed the radioactivity concentration of radon at 150 Bq / l in  drinking water.   
                                 
 
5.4             Biological characteristics  
                  Unbottled drinking water shall be completely free from algae, moulds, parasites  
                  and insects, their eggs, larvae, vesicles pro tozoa (including amoeba) and insect  
parts.       
 9  
 
5.5            Microbiological characteristics  
5.5.1          Unbottled drinking water shall be completely free from pathogenic and faecal  
                 microbes and viruses which may be hazardous to pub lic health.  
5.5.2         Treated water entering the distribution system:  
                  It shall be free from total coliform bacteria and E. Coli or thermotolerant  
                  coliform bacteria in any 100 ml examined sample.  
5.5.3          Treate d water in the distribution system:  
5.5.3.1       It shall be free from E. Coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria in any 100 ml  
                  examined sample.  
5.5.3.2       It shall be free from total coliform bacteria in any 100 ml of examined sampl e, 
                  in 95% of the samples examined throughout the year, in the case of large  
                  supplies when sufficient samples are examined.  
6.  Sampling:  
 Samples shall be taken according to GSO  standard in item (2. 1). 
7.  Methods of ex amination and test:  
 All necessary tests shall be carried out on the representative sample taken according 
to item (6) to determine its compliance with all items of this standard  
7.1  Microbiological, routine and non routine tests shall be carried out acco rding to GSO  
mentioned in items (2. 3, 2.4). 
7.2  Tests of physical properties shall be carried out according to GSO  in item (2. 2). 
7.3  Chemical test shall be carried out according to GSO  mentioned in item (2. 5). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 10  
 
 
References 
World Health Organization 2011 Guiding  for drinking water quality  
fourth  Ed. Vol. 1  
Recommendations