Dozens of bottled water brands declared unsafe in Pakistan — details inside

LAHORE: A warning comes from the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, which tested 205 mineral water brands sold across the country.

The PCRWR declared 26 mineral water brands sold across the country as substandard, cautioning citizens to be aware while purchasing drinking water.

According to the quarterly analytical report for July to September, out of 205 brands tested, 26 were found below the safety standard. It pinpointed chemical and microbial contamination in a number of popular brands.

The PCRWR said the four brands had excessively high levels of sodium, five had arsenic above the permissible limits, two had elevated TDS, two contained high potassium, and 17 were contaminated with harmful germs.

The brands with high sodium are Pure Drinking Water, Purifa. Those exceeding limits of arsenic include Natural Pure Life, Aqua Nest, Premium Safa Purified Water, Piyo Pani, and Volga.

High potassium levels were observed in My Pure Water and Smart Pure Life.

The following brands were found to have germ contamination: A to Z Pure Drinking Water, New Mehran, Zalmi, Pure Life, Dear Drinking Water, Dream Pure, Gulf, Crystal Aqua, Roha Water, Premium Drinking Water, Fresh Aqua, Asia Healthy Drinking Water, Iceberg, Lathani, Volga, and Maya Premium Drinking Water.

PCRWR has warned that these contaminated brands pose serious health risks and urged consumers to buy only verified and safe drinking water brands.