ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered action against eight mineral water brands supplying contaminated water to citizens of the federal capital and spreading Hepatitis C.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah gave the directions to the Islamabad Food Authority while hearing a petition filed by the bottled water companies.
Pakistan Today had exclusively reported on April 25, that bottled water companies including Deep Spring, Nectar, Hydro8, Bareen, Moozan, Elovina, Aquantis and Mapple Plus were spreading Hepatitis C in Islamabad after an investigation revealed that Coliform numbers in these brands are 60-240 whereas other bacterial germs were also found in large numbers.
The companies then moved the IHC challenging the food authority’s powers to collect the samples of their water brands, contending that the Food Law 1960 does not provide legal cover to the authority to raid mineral water factories.
Islamabad Food Authority Deputy Director Iqbal Yousaf submitted before the court that the authority was collecting water samples as per the law and taking action against the accused.
The court while rejecting the petition of the mineral water brands declared that the food authority has the right to collect samples from any brand and to launch action against them.
According to a report of the National Institute of Health (NIH), sealed bottles of all water samples were opened in the laboratory in the presence of experts where they examined it professionally and marked it unsatisfactory and unfit for human health.
NIH in its medical assessment added that in all water samples the coliform level is from 50 to 240 while total viable counts are 4×10 as well other bacterial germs are also found in large number and marked all these samples unfit for human health.
Water scientist, Dr Abdul Majeed while talking exclusively with Pakistan Today said that if the coliform level in any water is above than 0 then it is a serious risk to human health.
“Hepatitis C, gastro diseases and especially a chance of death if using by someone using these mentioned mineral waters and according to national and international standards these water samples are not only contaminated but a high risk to human health” Dr Majeed added.
It’s pertinent to mention here that around 200 registered and unregistered mineral water brands are working in Islamabad and Pindi, mostly inside dingy houses and their basements.