27 Bottled Water Brands Declared Harmful: A Silent Health Crisis

A recent report has revealed that 27 brands of bottled mineral water in Pakistan are unfit for human consumption, posing severe health risks, including cancer, heart disease, kidney damage, and nervous system disorders. Despite these alarming findings, relevant institutions remain passive, allowing hazardous water to reach consumers unchecked.

Deadly Contaminants Found in Bottled Water

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) conducted tests on 176 brands from 20 cities between October and December 2024. The results exposed dangerous levels of sodium, arsenic, potassium, and bacterial contamination in 27 brands.

Breakdown of Contaminated Water Brands

1.     High Sodium Levels (10 brands):

o    Marin Drinking Water, Pak Aqua, Gel Bottle Water, New, Aab-e-Dubai, Eltson, Pure Water, Aqua Health, Oslo, More Plus.

2.     Excessive Arsenic Content (5 brands):

o    One Pure Drinking Water, Indus, Premium Safaa Purified Water, Orwell, Natural Pure Life.

3.     Unsafe Potassium Levels (1 brand):

o    Hunza Otar Water.

4.     Bacterially Contaminated (16 brands):

o    SS Water, Sup Sup Premium Drinking Water, Mirin Drinking Water, D-Nova, Sky Rain, New, Pure Water, Dream Pure, Aqua Shro Pure Drinking Water, Marvi, Icewell, Aqab Sky, Karakoram Spring Water, More Plus, Asinsia, Life Inn.

Serious Health Risks Linked to Contaminated Water

Drinking these contaminated water brands can cause:

• Kidney damage
• High blood pressure
• Skin diseases and cancer
• Cholera and typhoid outbreaks
• Nervous system disorders

Regulatory Inaction: A Never-Ending Cycle

Authorities rarely take strict action against companies producing substandard water. Even when a company is shut down, it reopens under a new name, continuing its operations without accountability.

PCRWR only conducts quarterly tests and reports violations to PSQCA and provincial authorities. However, PSQCA’s licensing process lacks strict enforcement, allowing non-compliant brands to continue operations despite repeated failures.

Government Response and Industry Denial

• Some company representatives refused to comment on the report.
• Others denied the findings, claiming that the reports were misleading.
• PSQCA Licensing Director stated that action is taken only after repeated failures, and staff shortages make it difficult to monitor all brands effectively.

Urgent Need for Action

With 81 brands already missing from the market, loopholes in enforcement are allowing hazardous products to circulate freely. Stronger regulations, frequent inspections, and legal action against violators are necessary to protect public health.