The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has declared 29 bottled and mineral water brands unsafe for human consumption after they failed to meet prescribed quality standards.
PCRWR tested 230 bottled-water samples collected from 20 major cities across Pakistan as part of its quarterly monitoring programme.
The latest findings raised concerns about bacterial contamination, excessive sodium and high levels of total dissolved solids in some bottled water products.
Bacterial Contamination Found in 22 Brands
Bacterial contamination emerged as one of the biggest concerns in the latest testing.
PCRWR detected bacterial contamination in samples from 22 brands.
The council said the findings show why consumers need to pay attention to the quality of bottled water before buying it.
The testing also identified excessive sodium levels in samples from nine brands.
According to PCRWR, the recommended sodium limit stands at 50 parts per million (ppm). Some of the tested samples exceeded that level.
High TDS Levels Also Raise Concerns
The PCRWR report also identified bottled water with excessive total dissolved solids (TDS).
Some samples recorded TDS levels above 500 ppm.
TDS measures the amount of dissolved substances present in water. High levels can indicate problems with water quality, depending on the substances involved and applicable standards.
Several brands recorded more than one quality violation during the testing process.
PCRWR Tests Bottled Water Across Pakistan
PCRWR conducted the testing under its quarterly monitoring programme.
The federal government directs the programme to assess the quality of bottled and mineral water sold in Pakistan.
The council collects samples from different cities and tests them against prescribed quality standards.
The latest assessment covered 20 major cities, giving authorities a broader picture of bottled-water quality across the country.
The findings also serve as a warning for consumers who regularly rely on bottled water.
Consumers Urged to Check Water Quality
PCRWR has advised consumers to check product quality and relevant testing reports before purchasing bottled water.
The council also urged people to avoid products that fail to meet prescribed standards.
The latest report highlights the importance of stronger quality checks across the bottled-water industry.
For consumers, checking the source, certification and available testing information can help reduce the risk of buying substandard products.
