PCRWR finds 27 bottled water brands unsafe in third-quarter tests
The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources has declared 27 bottled and mineral water brands unsafe for human consumption. It tested 223 samples from 20 cities in July-September 2026.
- 27 bottled and mineral water brands declared unsafe
- 223 samples tested from 20 cities
- 195 brands, about 87 percent, met safety standards
- 22 brands showed microbiological contamination
The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has declared 27 commercially available bottled and mineral water brands unsafe for human consumption because of microbiological and chemical contamination. The finding covers the third quarter of 2026, from July to September, according to The Nation.
According to Daily Pakistan, PCRWR examined 223 bottled drinking water samples collected from 20 cities. Of these, 195 brands, about 87 percent of those assessed, met the required safety standards.
The 27 brands failed chemical tests, microbiological tests, or both. Six brands failed chemical quality checks and 22 showed microbiological contamination. One brand failed in both categories.
Daily Pakistan reported that none of the samples tested positive for E. coli, but coliform bacteria were found in several products. Some products contained excessive arsenic, sodium, potassium and total dissolved solids.
Among the examples cited, Akwafine Bottled Drinking Water, associated with MKS Beverages in Gujranwala, recorded arsenic of 23.2 ppb against a permissible maximum of 10 ppb. Premium Safa Purified Water from Multan contained 13.5 ppb of arsenic, also above the limit. Fresh Smart Pure Water recorded potassium of 20 ppm against a standard of 10 ppm.
Daily Pakistan said some secondary accounts also mention Douro and Aqua Grain Bottled Drinking Water in connection with microbiological contamination. It added that Nestlé Pure Life, Aquafina, Dasani, Murree Sparkletts and Culligan reportedly met the prescribed standards in this cycle.
Samples were taken from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Tando Jam, Badin, Dera Ismail Khan, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Sukkur.
Why it matters
Many people in Pakistan buy bottled water as an alternative to tap water, so test results on brand safety bear directly on household choices. The findings cover samples from cities across all provinces as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit. Arsenic above the permitted level and bacterial contamination are the main problems reported.
