In order to be used as a healthful fluid for human consumption, water must be free from organisms that are capable to cause diseases and from minerals and organic substances that could produce adverse physiological effects. Drinking water should also aesthetically acceptable, it should be free from apparent turbidity, color and odor and from any objectionable taste. The provision of a safe and aesthetically acceptable drinking water is secured now in most countries by a series of obligatory or advisory standards. Although the scientific approach in setting drinking standards is basically similar, there are differences in both the mechanism producing standards, and the philosophy of application. For example, there are international guidelines set by WHO, national standards set for individual states such as USEPA standards or local standards set by a certain local authority.

WHO guidelines for drinking water quality were, evolved in lieu of WHO standards for use by countries as a basis for the development of their own national standarrds, which if properly implemented, will ensure the safety of drinking water supply. However, it should be emphasized that the level of contaminants recommended in WHO Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, are not standards, instead they will serve as guiding values for states to set their own standards based on the prevailng environmental, social, economic, political and cultural characteristics and constraints.

As the case in many countries of the world, Jordan used the WHO guidelines as a basis to derive the national drinking water standards. These standards have been subjected to several modification, since their setting for the first time in 1982. The preliminary objective of this paper is to review the history of drinking water standard development in Jordan and the methodology followed in their development. The next step is the review of constraints facing the compliance with the drinking water standards in Jordan and recommended actions that should be taken to comply with.

In addition, a comparison between Jordanian Drinking water standards and natural mineral water standards was carried out which revealed many contradictions.