ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has flagged 23 bottled water brands as unsafe for human consumption, citing serious chemical and microbiological contamination in its latest quarterly report.
As part of its regular monitoring under government directives, PCRWR tested 203 samples collected from 21 major cities across Pakistan between April and June 2025. The results were measured against Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) benchmarks.
⚠️ Key Findings:
🔹 11 brands exceeded safe sodium levels — long-term consumption may pose health risks such as high blood pressure. These brands include:
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
🔹 4 brands contained dangerous levels of arsenic, a toxic element linked to cancer and other diseases:
Atco Drinking Water
Aqua Nest
Pani
New Mountain
🔹 1 brand — Vey Forever — exceeded the safe limit for potassium, which can be hazardous to individuals with kidney or heart conditions.
🔹 9 brands tested positive for bacterial contamination, which can cause gastrointestinal illness and other infections:
Noble Pure Drinking Water
Aqua 111
Clear
Wah Water
Nice Pure Max
Aqua King
Maa Jee
Freshin
Iceland
PCRWR has advised consumers to consult the full report on their website to confirm the safety status of the bottled water they use at home or in businesses.
The findings highlight the ongoing quality control challenges in Pakistan’s bottled water industry, where hundreds of brands compete without consistent regulatory oversight.
