Frequently asked questions.

Is it safe to drink filtered tap water in Dubai?

Yes! As long as your water tanks are regularly maintained, drinking filtered tap water is fine. To prove this is the case, we test a sample of water from EVERY installed machine and have it tested by a Municipality-recognised laboratory. We have never had a failed test.

What is plastic pollution?

It’s plastic found where it shouldn’t be.  When it’s on the beach or in the sea, its causing harm to our environment.  We’re using more and more plastic every year, and because its durable and cheap to manufacture we’re consuming it at staggering rates. Its estimated that that around 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans every single day.

How much plastic and waste do we produce annually?

In 1950 the world produced only 2 million tonnes per year. By 2015, annual production had increased nearly 200-fold, reaching 381 million tonnes. For context, this is roughly equivalent to the mass of two-thirds of the world population. Over the period from 1950 to 2015, cumulative production reached 7.8 billion tonnes of plastic — more than one tonne of plastic for every person alive today.

How does the filtered tap water compare to other bottled waters?

The filtered water from our dispensers has a similar nutritional build up to local bottled water! We test every machine we install and show our customers exactly what is in the water they are drinking. Fun fact: all soft drink water purifiers in all our favorite restaurants use filtered tap water!

How does plastic get in the sea?

Around two-thirds of plastic pollution comes from land sources; litter left on the beach or inland that is washed down rivers, or dropped in towns and cities and washed down drains.  It can come from badly organized landfill sites and bins near the coast or even consumers flushing litre down the toiler!  Ships, boats or ferries can be responsible for it going overboard.

How much oil do we use to make plastic?

It takes 1/4 litre of oil to manufacture a 1 litre plastic bottle.

How much plastic pollution is there?

It’s estimated that there are 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic, weighing 269,000 tons in the ocean.  In comparison, that is the same weight as 1,345 adult blue whales.

Are there environmental benefits of drinking plastic free water?

Yes! No additional energy consumption for the production, bottling and packaging and transportation is required. Estimates show that one 500-millilitre plastic bottle of water has a total carbon footprint equal to 82.8 grams of carbon dioxide. The average carbon dioxide emissions from new passenger cars reaching 120.4 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, so one 500-millilitre plastic bottle of water has the same carbon footprint as driving almost 1.5 kilometers in a car.

Are there any financial benefits to Sprudel?

Yes! The current savings record for our clients is 18-thousand Dirhams per month! Another benefit of using our subscription model is the stable monthly expenses for your complete drinking water supply as well as no big upfront costs. No more guessing how much water you will need to purchase!

How much of global plastic is recycled?

It is estimated that in 2015, around 55 percent of global plastic waste was discarded, 25 percent was incinerated, and 20 percent was recycled. Of the plastic waste produced between 1950 and 2015, only 9 percent was recycled.

How long does it take plastics to break down?

Many plastics are defined as non-degradable, meaning they fail to decompose and are instead broken down into smaller and smaller particles. Materials can slowly break down through photodegradation (from UV radiation).

Plastic bottles take an estimated 450 years and in this time tiny pieces of plastic enter our food chain through fish ingesting these particles.

Is the Carbon Dioxide used safe for consumption in our sparkling water?

Yes! We provide our customers with the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS) from our supplier.

What are microplastics?

By definition, microplastic is simply plastic of a very small particle size. When we discuss plastics we sometimes categorise them based on particle size. Microplastics are plastic particles with a diameter typically less than 5 millimetres, or in same scales less than 4.75 millimetres. Even smaller particles, measuring less than 0.0001 millimetres (<0.1μm — micrometre) in diameter are often referred to as nanoplastics.

How does plastic pollution effect our health?

One in three fish can be found to contain plastic, it’s now well and truly in our food chain.  Evidence shows that chemicals found in plastics can be linked to endocrine disruption and even some cancers. Having a centralised water dispenser in an office environment also encourages your employees to move more. More movement means healthier employees.

Does plastic waste impact wildlife?

Yes, there are many reports and documented cases of the impact of plastic ocean debris affecting — and in many cases, killing — aquatic life.

Can we just scoop it all out of the sea?

If only this was possible.  However, with just 1% of plastic pollution floating, the vast majority sinks to the sea bed and then turns to microscopic pieces which complicates matters further.

How long does it take to install a machine?

Not very long! After agreeing a location for your machine, our technicians can install the machine in no time!

How much money does a machine add to my electricity bill per month?

On average the our machines use the same amount of electricity as a low-voltage 20 watt light bulb. It costs our clients around 80 fils per month to keep the machine on all day, everyday (DEWA Tariff dependent).

How much money does a machine add to my water bill per month?

One litre of water from DEWA costs around 0.7 fils (DEWA tariff dependent).

What happens if my machine has a problem?

Give us a call and one of our technicians will be with you in a flash! Average response time is less than one hour. We use industry-leading water machines which are extremely reliable and in generally we only see an installed machine every six months, because they just work!

What happens when my CO2 bottle is empty?

Easy! Pick up the phone to let us know and we'll replace in within 24 hours of your call, guaranteed!