Packaged Drinking Water

Packaged Drinking Water (Other than Packaged Natural Mineral Water) means water,
other than natural mineral water that is likely to be used for human consumption and that is
offered or sold in packaged form, by whatever name it may be called, offered or sold.
Packaged drinking water means water derived from any source of potable water which
may be subjected to treatments such as, decantation, filtration, combination of filtrations,
aeration, filtration with membrane filter, depth filter, cartridge filter, activated carbon filtration,
demineralization, remineralization, reverse osmosis or any other method to meet the prescribed
standard and packed. It may be disinfected to a level that will not lead to harmful contamination
in the drinking water.
The potable water used for production of packaged drinking water is water derived from
any source (such as ground water like Borewell, public drinking water systems such as
Municipality Supply or Supplies from other sources) received on regular basis. Supplies of
such water through pipelines or tankers would be acceptable provided the source remains the
same.
As indicated above, the packaged drinking water can be produced by way
remineralization. This process involves addition of ingredients. In case remineralization is
carried out by any manufacturer, ingredients used for the purpose shall be of food grade quality
conforming to the requirements of the PFA Act, 1954 and the Rules framed thereunder.
Processed water may be disinfected by means of chemical agents and/or physical
methods to control the micro-organisms to a level that does not compromise food safety or
suitability for consumption. Various means adopted for disinfection include ozonization,
ultraviolet treatment, silver ionization, etc. and/or combination thereof.
The processed water shall be filled in sealed containers of various types/sizes/shapes
made from the plastic materials permitted under ISS, suitable for direct consumption without
further treatment. The filling & packing of the processed water shall be in containers which are
tamperproof, tight and impervious. The containers with features like Cool Jugs, Jugs with built-
in taps, Jars with threaded (reusable) caps etc. which are not tamperproof and leak proof shall
not be permitted.
Type of Description Container
Jars Reusable plastic containers
Bottles One time use plastic containers, to be crushed after use
Cup One time use plastic container in the shape of cup or
glass/tumbler, to be crushed after use.
 Glass Bottle Containers made of glass material (to be used after
sterilization)

The manufacturing of the processed water mainly involves the following process;
a) Collection of Raw Water
b) Removal of suspended & colloidal impurities by filtration such as sand, carbon,
micron filter etc
c) Removal of dissolved solids by Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange etc
d) Disinfection by different means such as ozonization, U.V., Silver Ionization etc
e) Filling & Packing
A Typical Manufacturing Process
1) DOSING SYSTEM 1 & 2
The water is drawn from Bore Well line. The water is then collected to storage tank. It
then goes to dosing system through raw water feed pump. In the dosing system, antiscalent is
used for the softening of the water.
2) PRESSURE SAND FILTER
From dosing system water goes to pressure sand filter, where the impurities of raw
water are removed.
3) ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER
From pressure sand filter water goes to activated carbon filter where organic impurities
are removed.
4) MICRON CARTRIDGE FILTER (MCF)
Water is then passed through micron filter. This filter removes the micron particles from
the water.
5) DEMINERALISATION BY REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM (R.O.)
Water from MCF goes to R.O. System through High Pressure Pump. R.O. removes 90-
95% of dissolved solids. The finished water is passed into Storage Tank.
6) OZONE GENERATOR WITH RE-CIRCUALTION
Finished water from R.O. system is stored in S.S made storage tank. The tank is
provided with the Man Hole so that the tank can be cleaned. This tank is used as ozone
circulation tank. The ozone is passed to this tank for disinfections.
7) U.V. SYSTEM
Water from S.S. tank is passed through MCF to U.V. disinfection system, where the
bacteria are inactivated.
8) FILLING AND PACKING
Water is then filled in cleaned and rinsed containers.

9) VISUAL EXAMINATION
Containers are visually inspected for any leakage and suspended matter against
illuminated screen.
10) TESTING
The raw water is tested two times in a month. Finished water is tested as per scheme of
testing prescribed by BIS.
BIS Standards Set for drinking water quality
According to the Central Ground Water Board, BIS (IS_10500 and revised module IS
10500:2012) has specifications in Uniform Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Protocol. This
standard has two limits i.e. acceptable limits and permissible limits in the absence of an
alternate source. If any parameter exceeds the limit, the water is considered unfit for human
consumption.
In broad terms, if the water is bacteriology contaminated (E-coli and viruses etc), or if
chemical contamination exceeds maximum permissible limits, the BIS considers that water
unfit for drinking.
Together We Can offer the latest drinking water specifications as per the BIS.
According to BIS 1500-2012 the acceptable limit of bacteria and other major contamination
are as follows:

Permissible limit
Test parameter Acceptable limit (In the absence of
alternate source of water)
pH value 6.5-8.5 No relaxation
Turbidity 1 5
Total hardness as
200 600
CaCo3, mg/l, Max
Shall not be detectable in Shall not be detectable in
[Link] presence/absence
any 100ml sample any 100ml sample
Total iron as Fe, mg/l,
0.3 No relaxation
Max
Taste Agreeable Agreeable
Odour Agreeable Agreeable

International standards for bottled drinking-water

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality provide a basis for derivation of standards
for all packaged waters. As with other sources of drinking-water, safety is pursued through a
combination of safety management and end product quality standards and testing. The
international framework for packaged water regulation is provided by the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (CAC) of WHO and the FAO. CAC has developed a Standard for Natural Mineral
Waters and an associated Code of Practice. The Standard describes the product and its
compositional and quality factors, including limits for certain chemicals, hygiene, packaging
and labelling. The CAC has also developed a Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters to cover
packaged drinking-water other than natural mineral waters. Both relevant CAC standards refer
directly to these Guidelines.
The CAC Code of Practice for Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral
Waters provides guidance on a range of good manufacturing practices and provides a generic
WSP applied to packaged drinking-water.
Under the existing CAC Standard for Natural Mineral Waters and associated Code of
Practice, natural mineral waters must conform to strict requirements, including collection and
bottling without further treatment from a natural source, such as a spring or well. In
comparison, the CAC Standard for Bottled/Packaged Waters includes waters from other
sources, in addition to springs and wells, and treatment to improve their safety and quality. The
distinctions between these standards are especially relevant in regions where natural mineral
waters have a long cultural history.
For further information on CAC, its Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters, the
CAC Standard for Natural Mineral Waters and its companion Code of Practice, readers are
referred to the CAC website ([Link]