The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has flagged 23 bottled water brands as hazardous for drinking. These brands were found to be contaminated with either bacteria or harmful chemicals.
In the second quarter of 2024 (April to June), 209 bottled water samples from 21 cities were tested. A press release revealed that 23 of these brands were deemed unsafe for drinking due to contamination issues.
Four brands, including Aqua Qismat, Vivo Water, Ruyaal Silver, and Smart, were identified as unsafe because they contained higher levels of sodium.
Three brands—Still, Starlite Water, and Premium Safa Purified Water—were deemed unsafe due to arsenic levels exceeding the allowed limits. Furthermore, Smart Pure Life was flagged as unsafe due to its high potassium levels.
Meanwhile, the following brands were found contaminated with bacteria:
- Fijji
- Asha Premium Drinking Water
- Water Plus Premium Drinking Water
- Neo Health Drinking Water
- Cliff Water Healthy Drinking Water
- Dream Pure
- Samar Indus Drinking Water
- Splash Water
- Crystal Pure Life
- Buxton, Kohinoor
- BRO H2O
- Oriel
- Parwaz Water
- Masafi
PCRWR urged the public to review its detailed report to understand the water quality of the bottled brands they consume. The Council conducts regular checks on bottled and mineral water brands, releasing quarterly updates to inform the public about health risks.
