PCRWR collected 187 samples of Mineral/Bottled water brands from different cities which were found contaminated during laboratory analysis.
ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan through Ministry of Science and Technology has designated the task to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) for quarterly monitoring of bottled/mineral water brands and publicize the results in the best interest of public health.
For the last quarter (July to September), 187 samples of Mineral/Bottled water brands were collected from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Badin, Sukkur, Loralai, Quetta, Peshawar, Karachi, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Gilgit, D.I. Khan, D.G.Khan, Multan and Tandojam.
Comparison of test results with permissible limits of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has revealed that 20 brands were unsafe for human consumption.
Twelve brands (Doctor Water, MEZAN, Ab-e-Muskan, Refine, Pure Life, Ab-e-Hayat, Douro, Zimal, JEL, Safa Drinking Water, Sunlay, and Aqua King) were found to be unsafe due to the presence of higher levels of sodium ranging from 58-85 mg/L than PSQCA bottled water quality standard for Sodium (50 mg/L).
One brand (i.e. Pure Nature) was found unsafe due to the presence of a high level of Arsenic i.e. 23 mg/L than the PSQCA water quality standard for Arsenic (10 mg/L).
Two brands (Zindagi Plus and Aqua Safe) were found unsafe due to the presence of a high level of Potassium i.e. 13-15 mg/L than the PSQCA water quality standard for Potassium (10 mg/L).
Six brands (Safi, Abe-Muskan, Ice Well, Natural Water, Top Up, Aqua Star) were found microbiologically contaminated and thus were unsafe.
