Over 20 bottled water brands found unfit for drinking in PCRWR safety report

ISLAMABAD: A new report by the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has found that 23 bottled water brands currently sold across Pakistan are unfit for human consumption.

The testing was carried out during the second quarter of 2025 (April–June), under PCRWR’s regular safety monitoring programme. A total of 203 water samples were collected from 21 major cities, and examined using the standards set by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

❗ Major Contaminants Identified:

🧂 Excessive Sodium:
High sodium content was detected in 11 brands, making them unsuitable especially for people with hypertension or kidney problems:

• New Mehran

• Aqua 111

• Nice Pure Max

• Pure Drinking Water

• Logic

• Himalya Cool

• Natural Pure Life

• Natural

• Forever Bottled Drinking Water

• Drinkly Pure Drinking Water

• Qudrat Water

☠️ Arsenic Contamination:
These 4 brands had arsenic levels beyond the permissible limit — a known cancer-causing element:

• Atco Drinking Water

• Aqua Nest

• Pani

• New Mountain

⚠️ High Potassium:

• Vey Forever was flagged for excess potassium, which can pose risks for people with heart or kidney disease.

🦠 Bacterial Presence:
The presence of bacteria was confirmed in 9 brands, making them potentially dangerous:

• Noble Pure Drinking Water

• Aqua 111

• Clear

• Wah Water

• Nice Pure Max

• Aqua King

• Maa Jee

• Freshin

• Iceland

PCRWR has urged the public to verify the safety of the bottled water they consume by reviewing the full test report available on their official website.

The findings raise serious concerns about public health safety and regulatory enforcement in the bottled water sector — a market that continues to expand as access to clean tap water remains limited.