What to look for when buying bottled water

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The public should be concerned over two important factors when buying bottled drinking water from supermarkets and other shops all over the country.

They are the registration number and whether the seal is intact, Chairman, Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Dr. A.R.L. Wijesekara told the Daily News yesterday.

Dr.Wijesekara said that the label of the bottle should clearly state the registration number which includes the date and year of approval. For example (CSA/2007/01). This registration number should be clearly displayed on the top of the bottle (neck area).

According to Dr.Wijesekara the registration process which consist of several stages including thorough inspection of the source of water is jointly handled by the SLSI and the Food Control Administration Unit (FCAU) of the Health Care and Nutrition Ministry.

The approval is being granted by the Chief Food Authority (Director General, Health Services. The SLSI and the Health Care and Nutrition Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in connection with carrying out the recommendation process which is currently carried out only by the SLSI.

The second important fact is the seal of the packaging. A new drinking water bottle available in the market should be sealed air tight with a suitable cap. The cap should be shrink wrapped with a rubber security wrapper. The seal should be intact and the public should check above requirements before buying bottled drinking water, he said.

The public should destroy the plastic bottle after use and dispose of it in a proper way to make sure that such bottles do not come into market again filled with tap water. The problem of used drinking water bottles should be addressed soon to keep the environment clean and ensure the safety of bottled drinking water, he added.

Meanwhile the Health Care and Nutrition Ministry sources said that the FCAU has conducted 54 raids and taken action against unhealthy bottled drinking water companies after receiving a large number of complaints from the public. Legal action is to be taken shortly against those companies under laws which are in force since May 2006.

A fine up to Rs.10,000 or six month imprisonment or both can be imposed against them.