MAKKAH -UNS : A long-circulated claim questioning the safety of Zamzam water was scientifically rejected after laboratory testing confirmed that the water is safe for human consumption and possesses distinctive natural mineral properties.
According to the account, controversy emerged in 1971 when an Egyptian doctor reportedly wrote to the European press alleging that Zamzam water was contaminated because Makkah lies below sea level and urban wastewater could seep into the sacred well. The claim reportedly caused concern among Muslims worldwide.
The matter was brought to the attention of Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal, who ordered an immediate scientific investigation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources tasked specialists with examining the well and sending water samples to internationally recognized laboratories in Europe for independent analysis.
Engineer Moinuddin Ahmed, then associated with Saudi Arabia’s desalination sector, was assigned to inspect the Zamzam well. During the investigation, the team observed that water continuously entered the well naturally through the surrounding sandy underground layers rather than through pipes or surface channels.
Pumping tests reportedly demonstrated that the water source was constantly replenished from beneath the ground, maintaining a stable water level.
Water samples collected from the well were subsequently analyzed in European laboratories. The reported findings concluded that Zamzam water fully met drinking water standards.
Laboratory results also indicated relatively higher concentrations of naturally occurring calcium and magnesium compared to ordinary drinking water, while fluoride was found in levels that may contribute to limiting bacterial growth.
The investigation concluded that the allegations of contamination were unfounded, reinforcing confidence in the quality of Zamzam water, which has served millions of pilgrims for centuries.
The findings were reportedly used by the Saudi authorities to publicly refute the earlier claims through international media.
