Some factories in the city have been bottling and distributing “unsatisfactory” water, the Government Analyst-Food & Drug Department (GA-FDD) has found.
The GA-FDD conducted an inspection exercise of 29 water processing facilities over a six-month period where 87 water samples were collected for testing, the agency noted in a statement.
The samples were analysed for microbiological and chemical parameters to verify compliance with safety requirements and of the samples collected, 15 produced “unsatisfactory” results, GA-FDD said.
It was also discovered that 11 of the facilities were operating without the necessary approval from the GA-FDD.
The Department is urging all water processing factories to confirm with the legal and safety requirements regarding the sale of treated water, particularly in the five gallon bottles.
“Manufacturers and Distributors must have a valid license, issued by this Department and is an indicator of their compliance to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s); also bottles used must be properly cleaned, sanitized, labelled and sealed. No funnel should be used to transfer water to bottles prior to sale and/or distribution,” GA-FDD said.
Consumers are also advised when purchasing treated water from various water processing factories to ensure they are properly labelled and sealed and to report any company that fails to comply with the Department’s requirements as it relates to the sale of treated water to the general public.
“Consumers making purchases should demand to see a valid license issued by the Food and Drugs Department,” GA-FDD noted.
The Department warned that processors who insist on operating without a valid License will be asked to cease operation and in the coming months this exercise will be repeated and a list of approved facilities will be published.
