By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter


The demand for bottled water is soaring across the country along with the mercury. However, many shopkeepers are complaining that suppliers are finding it difficult to meet this demand.
According to sources, the demand for 20litre and 17litre bottles at most retail outlets has gone up by 30%-50%. However, the local companies reportedly do not have the required capacity to meet the growing demand from the country’s households and groceries.
The country has witnessed a four-fold rise in its population in the past decade, but not many new licences for the production of bottled water have been granted. As a result it is generally believed that a gap exists between the high summer demand and the supply in the local market. The country’s population was about 540,000 in June 2002; now, it is close to 2mn.  
While stocks continue to reach the local market from other GCC countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, a similar rise in demand during the summer in the neighbourhood takes a toll on the supply here, say sources.
There are days when the demand for 20litre bottles at groceries goes up by as much as 100% or even more, it is learnt.
“This is happening even after several bachelors’ accommodation units have been shifted from the area where we operate,” said a grocery operator in a city suburb. Usually, his shop sells around 30 20litre bottles a day; these days, there are enquiries for 50 bottles or more. More often than not, stocks at most retail outlets run out during the weekend, it is found. “Sometimes, when I ask for 30 bottles, the suppliers are providing only 20,” he added.
One of the suppliers said there were no reports of any shortage in the supply of his brand’s water in Doha. However, some store operators complained of a shortage as water is often delivered straight to customers’ homes by companies these days.
Another company official agreed that there is a surge in the demand for bottled water during the summer, especially from June to August.
Residents are also worried about the quality of water. Some consumers Gulf Times spoke to said they had doubts if bottles were being cleaned properly by local manufacturers.
While seeking intervention of the local health, safety and environment authorities, the residents said periodic inspection of the manufacturing facilities should be made mandatory and there should also be more surprise checks, especially during the summer.
In recent years, the local authorities have banned the supply of at least two brands of bottled water supplied from a GCC state on grounds of being “unfit for consumption”.
As in the case of bottled water, there is an equally high growth in the summer demand for inexpensive laban, especially in localities inhabited by low-income labourers.