Now with millions of Umrah visitors heading to Makkah, the question arises: How much Zamzam water do Umrah pilgrims consume in Ramadan in the Grand Mosque in Makkah? Umrah pilgrims have consumed nearly 2,232,324 liters of Zamzam water daily from more than 19,000 water coolers filled round the clock during the holy month of Ramadan. Not only can tasteless and crystal clear Zamzam water increase spirituality, but it's a great way to remember the spring which God sent Angel Gabriel to cause to appear for Hajar, wife of Abraham (peace be upon him, to quench the thirst of her infant son Ismail (peace be upon him) in a hot dry valley thousands of years ago. According to Afiyan Al-Juaid, director of Zamzam Water Administration at the Grand Mosque, more than 2,300 cubic meters of Zamzam water is consumed a day this Ramadan in 3 million small white plastic cups. Zamzam water is abundant and easily accessible to the visitors of the Grand Mosque, he said. “No visitor can fail to find Zamzam water inside the Mosque,” he said. “There are 19,630 five-gallon sports water coolers, 800 large multi-tap water dispensers, and 41 fiberglass tanks, all filled with Zamzam water.” With the help of 630 workers, the coolers are kept filled with the Zamzam water. The whole operation is supervised by 74 employees round the ‘clock. In the outside plaza, Zamzam is also available. Visitors do not have to go inside the Mosques for the water as it can be fetched from 48 large multi-tap water dispensers and 40 fiberglass tanks located in the plaza outside the Grand Mosque. The Saudi government has prohibited the commercial export of Zamzam from the Kingdom, but pilgrims may fill their water containers from three Zamzam water distribution points: King Abdul Aziz Point in Kudai, Bab Al-Fatah Point, and Gaza Point. Zamzam water is sent fresh from the well a few meters away from the Ka'ba to the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, Al-Juaid said. The consumption of Zamzam at the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, however, is much less at 355 cubic meters a day. It's important to be cautious when consuming Zamzam water as any drop of it on the shiny floor may cause a barefoot pilgrim to slip, he said. – Okaz __
