Pakistan declares 29 bottled water brands unsafe for human consumption

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) in its recent report has declared 29 bottled and mineral water brands unsafe for human consumption after they failed to meet prescribed quality standards.

The council tested 230 bottled-water samples collected from 20 major cities across Pakistan as part of its quarterly monitoring program.

According to the report, bacterial contamination was detected in samples from 22 brands, making it one of the most significant concerns identified during the testing. The report also found excessive levels of sodium in nine brands.

PCRWR said the prescribed limit for sodium is 50 ppm, while some samples exceeded this level.

In addition, some brands were found to have total dissolved solids (TDS) levels above 500 ppm. Several brands were found to have more than one quality violation.

The testing was carried out under a quarterly monitoring program directed by the federal government to assess the quality of bottled and mineral water available in the market and alert consumers to potential health risks.

PCRWR has advised consumers to check the quality and relevant testing reports before purchasing bottled water and to avoid products that fail to meet prescribed standards.