The government gave Haj pilgrims 25.6 million liters of free Zamzam water this year, according to an official from the United Zamzam Office in Makkah.

Sulaiman Abu Ghelya, chairman of the organization, said the water was distributed in the form of 330ml bottles, 20 liter cans and 1.5 liter bottles to patients in hospitals.

Ghelya said the organization was the only body allowed to distribute Zamzam to pilgrims in Makkah. He said the water was distributed in three phases — 330ml bottles to pilgrims on their arrival in Jeddah and Madinah, 20 liter thermos cans at the residences of pilgrims and 330ml bottles at their residences after they completed their Haj rituals.

Ghelya said the Zamzam water bottles are filled at an automated bottling plant in Rusaifa. The organization has 1,200 employees, including women, and 130 trucks to deliver the holy water in the city. The free distribution ended on Nov. 19.