29 brands of bottled water found to be substandard for drinking, analytical report

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), under the direction of the Government of Pakistan, conducted a quarterly monitoring of bottled water quality. For the quarter of April to June 2026, 230 samples from 20 cities were analyzed according to Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) guidelines. The analysis revealed that 29 out of 230 brands were substandard, with 22 brands found to be microbiologically contaminated, making them unfit for consumption. Additionally, nine brands had sodium levels exceeding the prescribed limits, and four brands showed higher than acceptable levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). While companies claim their brands are standard and plan to approach the government to rectify records, these findings highlight significant public health concerns regarding bottled water safety.