NOTE - This is a general review on Packaged and Natural Mineral drinking water. I have selected Bisleri as this brand was in lot of news in pesticide-in-water controversy. I also wish to comment on anothe brandKingfisher Premium packaged drinking water but it is not listed in product list. Bisleri was found wanting in many respects of safe water. Kingfisher bottle was not having Best Before Consumption Date and Batch/Code number marked.
Water is essential for human survival. Humans use water for satisfying their various needs, such as, bathing and washing, cooking food, drinking etc in addition to various industrial and other applications. Water for drinking is available from various sources. With increasing industrial activities and also changing life styles, humans themselves have posed a danger to drinking water quality and its fitness for safe human consumption.
Like any other commodity water is also now being sold. Government sells water under public water supply system. Drinking water is being sold by both public and private sector industries in packaged form. Water so supplied is required to conform to pre-decided standards of quality. India?s national standards body, Bureau of Indian Standards has established national standards for drinking water.
Consumption of packaged water for drinking purposes has been increasing considerably in India. Packaged water supplied for drinking purposes should be produced, packaged and marketed in a manner to ensure its safety for human consumption. Microbiological, physical and chemical safety of the water should be guaranteed to the extent expected. It should be ensured that packaged water offered for sale in the market is safe and free from harmful organisms.
Bureau of Indian Standards have published following Indian Standards for drinking water:
a) IS 10500 ? Drinking water (from any water source including public drinking water supply systems),
b) IS 13428 ? Packaged natural mineral water,
c) IS 14543 ? Packaged Drinking water (Other than packaged natural mineral water).
These standards prescribe microbiological requirements, organoleptic & physical parameters, limits of undesirable substances, radio-active and pesticide residues. Standards also specify hygienic practices to be adopted for collection of raw water, processing, handling, packaging and marketing.
Packaging of water should be done in clean, hygienic, colourless, transparent and temper proof plastic/glass bottles/containers suitable for preventing possible adulteration and contamination of water. Plastic used for making plastic bottles/containers should be of food grade quality.
Bottles/containers should be marked with information about name of product, name & address of processor, brand name, batch or code number, date of processing, treat of disinfection, best for consumption date, net volume, direction for storage and any other marking(s) required by Weights & Measures Standards, Packaged Commodity Rules and provisions of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act & Rules.
Considering that above safety aspects should be ensured in the interest of public safety, Government has regulated manufacture, packaging and marketing of packaged drinking water through a quality control order. Under this order Packaged Natural Mineral Water and Packaged Drinking Water should meet all requirements of IS 13428 and IS 14543 respectively. In addition bottles/containers containing water should bear ISI Mark. Any violation of this quality control order attracts a fine of Rs. 50000 and imprisonment of six months. Provisions of this order apply equally on the processing and packaging unit, distributor, stockiest and retailer.
ISI marking on any bottle/container of drinking water provides an assurance by Bureau of Indian standards that water meets the requirements of specified Indian Standard and is safe and free from harmful organisms.
Ask for safe water.
If you need any more information please e-mail on suresh@betterlife4all.com.