The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has declared 29 bottled and mineral water brands unsafe for human consumption after testing 230 samples from 20 major cities between April and June 2026.
PCRWR released the findings Friday after comparing results with Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) standards. The council said bacterial contamination, high sodium, and excessive total dissolved solids (TDS) affected several brands.
Bacteria Contamination Raises Concerns
PCRWR detected bacterial contamination in 22 brands. These brands include Mai Sial Bottled Drinking Water, JERS Safe Life, Natural Pure Life, Natural Sip, Al Meer, Al Saha, Al Shifa, Royal Fina, Aqua Nice Pure Life, Noor Aqua, Aqua Pure, Drinkwell Pure Drinking Water, Imperial Pure Drinking Water, Zalmi, Deep Blue, Aab-e-Haram, Vital Sip, Hunza Ulter Water, Rehydr8 Drink Pure Water, Moya Mineral Water, Tynant Aqua, and Aqua Pura Smart.
Additionally, nine brands exceeded the sodium limit of 50 parts per million (ppm): HR Water Healthy Life, A2Z Pure Bottled Drinking Water, Pure Drinking Water, Deep Blue Pure Drinking Water, Sip Nest Purified Drinking Water, Aab-e-Haram, Aqua Life Bottled Drinking Water, Water Drinkly, and Alpha H2O Bottled Drinking Water.
High TDS Levels Found in Four Brands
PCRWR also found TDS above the permitted 500 ppm limit in A2Z Pure Bottled Drinking Water, Imperial Pure Drinking Water, Aab-e-Haram, and Alpha H2O Bottled Drinking Water.
Meanwhile, the federal government has directed PCRWR to conduct quarterly monitoring of bottled and mineral water brands. The council urged consumers to review quality reports before purchasing bottled water, while PCRWR Director General Dr. Hifza Rasheed issued the latest findings.
