Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) on Sunday, released a list of 22 brands of bottled water that are providing contaminated water which is harmful for human consumption.
PCRWR issued a report claiming that 22 brands out of the 180 providing bottled water across the country were providing water that is harmful to human health.
Samples collected by the council for inspection showed 16 brands to be chemically unsafe and 6 others turned out to be microbiologically unsafe.
The report said that out of the brands supplying unsafe water, half were operating in Karachi. It further added that the contaminated water consisted of TDS, arsenic along with excessive levels of potassium, on top of germs which cause infectious diseases including cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid.
Brands identified as unsafe due to excessive amounts of sodium ranging between 60-165 mg/L against the water quality standard for Sodium set by PSQCA which is 50 mg/L are as following; Pure, Blue Plus, Sunday, Aqua King, Spring Fresh Life, UF Pure Edge, Douro, Dropice, Puricana Mineral, Drops, Best Natural, Al Barkah Water and Koyo.
As a result of these revelations, customers have protested against the performance of PSQCA as well as the provincial food authorities and demanded reasons for the supply of substandard bottled water despite double-checking from the authorities.
The majority of the unregistered and phony water brands were found to be selling water in areas near prominent government hospitals in Karachi posing a greater health risk for patients in those hospitals. These brands are also selling water in recreational public spaces putting ca large number of citizens especially children at risk.
