EULALEE THOMPSONEULALEE THOMPSON
IF YOU are not guzzling down brand name water, then you are not yet part of the latest in-crowd. But not too fast to reach for that bottle of water 'all that glitters is not gold'.
Dutch researcher, Dr. Rocus R. Klont from the University Medical Centre Nijmegan and colleagues, reporting to a recent Washington, D.C. meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, said that the pristine-looking bottled mineral water, though considered purer than tap water, is often contaminated with bacteria and fungi.
He told Reuters Health that patients with compromised immune systems are often given bottled mineral water since hospital water is increasingly accepted as a source of pathogens and the bottled version is thought to be much safer. In many of the water
samples evaluated by Dr. Klont,
nothing could be further from the truth.
The researcher and his colleagues looked for bacterial and fungal contamination in water samples from nine European and seven non-European countries. In total the study involved 68 commercial mineral waters, one tap water and one water sample from a
natural well.
He told Reuters Health: "We found high levels of bacterial contamination in commercially bottled water."
Further, there was evidence of bacterial or fungal contamination in 40 per cent of all samples, and the researchers could actually grow bacteria in lab cultures from 21 of the water samples, shattering the general perception that bottled water is safe and clean. The researcher did say, however, that the risk of disease in healthy persons would be limited even from contaminated
bottled water, but the persons to be concerned about were those with compromised immune systems.
All this information leads one to wonder about the potable and bottled water situation in Jamaica. The Bureau of Standards' Marie Berbick-Graham indicated that water samples are randomly taken and tested against the CARICOM Draft Standard for Package Water, CCS: 2000. Establishments vending water are visited by officers
of the Bureau and assessed annually. Once the establishments meet the
relevant standards, they are registered and the registration is renewable every year. However, it is the establishments that vend the various brands of bottled water which are registered by the Bureau and not the various brands of water.
As of September 21, more than 12 establishments, vending close to two dozen bottled water brands, were registered by the Bureau. The brands include Mekyah, Wata, Mivida, Caribbean Spring Water, Catherine Peak and Nature's Pure Spring Water. (See table
at right for the complete list
of registered bottled water
establishments).
CARICOM STANDARD
The CARICOM standard for packaged water distinguishes natural mineral water, spring water and purified water and specifies "requirements for purity, treatment, bacteriological acceptability, packaging and labelling of all packaged water."
Maximum concentrations of certain substances (based on the type of water) such as aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, selenium, zinc, cyanide, nitrate, and sulphide are prescribed. Guidelines for maximum levels of pesticides and other surface active agents, which may inadvertently enter water, are also prescribed.
The standard also states that "mineral water, spring water and purified water shall be packaged in hermetically sealed retail containers which are
suitable for preventing the possible adulteration of water."
In addition, the standard call for the regular testing of samples of unfilled containers, at the point of filling, for coliform organisms. The test methods are also prescribed they should meet the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) requirements.
You can send your comments to eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com.
