As bottled water industry has mushroomed in recent years in Pakistan, its quality has gradually degenerated to a point where growing public complaints have moved the authorities collect samples of bottled water and, not surprisingly, clinical findings declared the water of at least two dozen brands as unsafe for human consumption.
Notwithstanding the quality of drinking water supplied to the households in urban centers, which is proven contaminated because the supply lines mostly pass through sewerage lines and drains, the citizens increasingly turned to purchase bottled water to avoid water-borne diseases.
The tap water supplied to the citizens has contamination from human waste, pollutants from industries and agricultural inputs. According to statistics of the World Health Organization, at least 25 to 30 per cent diseases are gastro-intestinal in nature, and majority of the ailments are caused by the consumption of contaminated water.
This fact is said to have forced a large number of citizens in the country to opt for buying bottled water. This led to the mushroom growth of bottled water firms. However, many of the bottled water companies are selling contaminated water.
As such, the government has directed the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) to carry out quarterly monitoring of bottled water brands and to publicize the findings for public health awareness.
According to statistics, in the final quarter of the last year, at least 168 samples of mineral and bottled water brands were collected from 22 cities for clinical testing. The test results have surprisingly revealed that at least two dozen brands are unsafe for human consumption due to various contaminants, including microbial, chemical or both.
The sample collection was made by the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) on the instructions of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Besides, three international brands and more than 130 local brands are registered in Pakistan.
No doubt, the people of these cities have become more aware of the contamination of drinking water, which has resulted in more sale of bottled water.
A bird’s eye view of the situation connected with water needs in urban societies postulate that extreme climatic conditions and free access to clean water are the major drivers for the most basic form of bottled water. The market trend of the major cities of the country shows that bottled water is consumed in large quantities and, thus, distributed on a daily basis through all channels in a very effective manner.
The governments and concerned authorities need to capitalize on improving the quality of our municipal water and one come from wells in rural sets of the country. It is critical in order to switch to a safe and more sustainable alternative.
A comprehensive awareness campaign is the need of the hour to motivate people to reach out to local water suppliers to find out where your water comes from.
