Safe to Drink? The Untold Risks of Packaged Water in India
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The next time you reach for that bottle of water, remember it's not just about quenching thirst. It's about trusting a system designed to protect you, from source to sip.
In a country where soaring temperatures and rising pollution levels often make access to clean drinking water a challenge, packaged bottled water is seen as a convenient and seemingly trustworthy solution. Be it at railway stations, airports, or roadside stalls, a bottle of mineral water is often perceived as a safer choice. But is it always as safe as it looks?
'We often take the safety of packaged drinking water for granted, but there is a long and rather strict set of scientific protocols and regulatory checks behind the label on every bottle," says Dr. Saurabh Arora, Managing Director, Auriga Research.
The assumption that bottled water is inherently safer than tap water is a common one, especially in urban India. But the real story behind that chilled bottle involves decades of regulatory evolution, public health scares, and increasingly stringent quality standards. According to Dr. Arora, 'Two decades ago, the industry had no specific standards. It was only after significant public health concerns, including the presence of pesticide residues in bottled water and even carbonated beverages, that the Bureau of Indian Standards introduced mandatory frameworks such as IS 14543 for packaged drinking water and IS 13428 for packaged natural mineral water. These standards not only cover the water's quality but also the safety of packaging materials like bottles, jars, and pouches."
advetisement
These regulations have transformed the bottled water industry into one of the most rigorously monitored food sectors in India. Every licensed bottling facility is mandated to conduct daily tests to monitor basic parameters like pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and conductivity. Weekly and monthly testing expands the spectrum to include anions, cations, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and even microbiological pathogens.
'Today, every licensed facility is expected to conduct daily tests for basic parameters such as pH, dissolved solids, and conductivity. Weekly and monthly testing requirements cover a wide spectrum, from anions and cations to pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microbiological pathogens. Third-party laboratory testing at BIS or NABL-accredited labs is mandatory at multiple intervals throughout the year," says Dr. Arora.
Interestingly, quality control doesn't end with the water alone. Even the plastic bottle it comes in undergoes scrutiny. 'Even the sensory attributes of water, its smell, taste, and clarity, are validated through organoleptic testing. Packaging, too, undergoes rigorous evaluation for structural integrity and chemical migration to prevent leaching of harmful substances," he explains.
With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stepping in as a key regulatory body, the bar for compliance has been raised even higher. Packaged water is now classified as a high-risk food product, a designation that requires bottling plants to undergo third-party audits every six months.
'With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India now overseeing regulatory compliance, packaged water has been classified as a high-risk food product. This means facilities must undergo third-party audits every six months and remain compliant with FSSAI's quality framework," Dr. Arora adds.
Despite these layers of quality checks, consumer trust doesn't come from the glossy label or a fancy cap. 'At our research center, we believe that trust in packaged water does not stem from branding or packaging. It is built on an invisible ecosystem of state-of-the-art testing infrastructure, regulatory vigilance, and scientific integrity. It is this commitment that safeguards public health and ensures that every sip consumers take is not only refreshing but also safe," says Dr. Arora.
So the next time you reach for that bottle of water, remember—it's not just about quenching thirst. It's about trusting a system designed to protect you, from source to sip.
About the Author
Swati Chaturvedi
First Published:
June 01, 2025, 11:39 IST
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