Abstract
Fourteen domestic and seven imported bottled water brands were analysed in Saudi Arabia for various physico-chemical water quality parameters. The results of the analysis were compared with the drinking water standards set by Saudi Arabia and World Health Organization. The levels of different physico-chemical parameters like TDS, Ca, Mg, Na, K, NO3, Cl and SO4 of all local and imported bottled water brands met the different drinking water standards. Fluoride was found below the Saudi Arabian Standard Organization recommended limits in two of the local brands whereas fluoride levels in all of the imported brands were below the recommended values. In one imported brand, pH was found not conforming to the recommended standards. The concentrations of trace metals in all brands were within the drinking water standards. Comparison of the study results with the reported label values indicated good agreement with stated pH values but considerable variation for Ca, Mg, and Na in the local brands and comparatively low variation in the imported brands. Low F and SO4 variations were found in the local brands and comparatively high SO4 variation in the imported brands.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alabdula'aly, A. I. and Khan, M. A.: 1995, Microbiological quality of bottled water in Saudi Arabia, J. Environ. Sci. Health A 30(10), 2229–2241.
Alam, I. and Sadiq, M.: 1988, An evaluation of metal concentrations in bottled waters and their health effects, Environ. Tech. Letters 9, 925–930.
Allen, H., Henderson, M. A. H. and Hass, C. N.: 1989, Chemical composition of bottled mineral water, Arch. of Environ. Health 44(2), 102–116.
Geldreich, E. E., Nash, H. D., Reasoner, D. J. and Taylor, R. H.: 1975, The necessity of controlling bacterial populations in potable waters – bottled water and emergency water supplies, J. Am. Water Works Assoc. 67, 117–124.
Musaiger, A. O. and Khunji, Z. A.: 1990, Chemical quality of drinking water in Bahrain, J. Royal Soc. of Health 110(3), 104–105.
Saudi Arabian Standards Organization: 1984, Bottled and unbottled drinking water, standard no. 409.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water: 1992, 18th ed., APHA, AWWA, WPCF, Washington D.C.
Tobin, R. S.: 1984, Water treatment for home or cottage, Can. J. Public Health 75, 79–82.
Warburton, D. W., Dodds, K. L., Burke, R., Johnson, M. A. and Laffy, P. J.: 1992, A review of the microbiological quality of bottled water sold in Canada between 1981 and 1989, Can. J. Microbiol. 38, 12–19.
World Health Organization (WHO): 1984, Guidelines for drinking water quality, Recommendations, Vol. 1, Geneva.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alabdula'aly, A.I., Khan, M.A. Chemical Composition of Bottled Water in Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess 54, 173–189 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005810900938
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005810900938