South Africans who believe the quality of the water in their taps has been compromised are forced to choose from alternatives available to them. And the go-to solution for many people when they can’t trust the tap is bottled water.

However, if the bottle does not feature the SANBWA logo (South African National Bottled Water Association), it is not bottled by a SANBWA-approved and audited producer who has adhered to stringent health and safety guidelines and legislation.

Even worse, the water could be bottled by a fraudster who is using the contaminated source and passing it off as bottled water.

SANBWA CEO, Charlotte Metcalf, explained: “Many companies and individuals are now offering ‘access to clean drinking water’ and cite other benefits like ‘job creation’ and cheaper ‘bottled water’ through different products and processes.

“These ‘bottler’ start-ups bottle water with ‘turn-key’ small purification systems in informal locations and offer both pre-filled waters as ‘bottled water’ as well as re-filling on the spot. But this is not legal or, in some instances, food-safe.”

According to Metcalf, packaged water in South Africa is legislated by the Department of Health as a food product, and there are many pieces of legislation its production and distribution must adhere to.

“The practice of filling, sealing, and labelling the water makes that provider/bottler legally responsible for food safety,” she stressed. “This is not practical in informal or retail spaces as packaged water needs a dedicated hygienic facility with formal quality management systems in place and testing per daily production batch,” she said.

Re-filling water falls under the Department of Water Affairs as ‘drinking water’ regulated by SANS241. This means one may only re-fill into the consumer’s container or a new container on the spot and only if chemical and microbiological safety for human consumption can be assured.

“Re-filling stations can pose a real risk to consumer safety if they are not designed and maintained with hygiene and food safety in mind.

“For example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen, is often found in these systems. It is a biofilm or ‘slime’ former and its presence indicated that the equipment is not cleaned and sanitised properly and that the operation is open to the environment.

“This is why it is not permissible by law to pre-fill water into bottles and label it from a retail floor or non-food-safe facility. If the outlet did that, the whole store would need to adhere to food production facility hygiene requirements as dictated by law.

"Furthermore, once any food is sealed it becomes a closed package system and hygiene practices during its source, preparation and manufacture will determine its shelf life. And, the product needs a best-before date and production batch code per daily production batch,” she said.

Other black marks against these waters are that they are often displayed alongside legitimate packaged water brands (a practice which misleads the consumer into thinking that they are buying the same quality water at a much-reduced price) plus the fact that labelling is often incorrect (referring to mineral content is misleading; also the product category of ‘Purified Water’ is not recognised by the Department of Health).

“If you can’t guarantee – because there’s no SANBWA logo – that the water was bottled by a bottler conforming to legislation, standards and best practises, there are alternatives you can carefully consider,” Metcalf added.

“Boil the water for at least 1 minute (preferably 2 minutes) at a rolling boil to kill all harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses from drinking water.

“Simply fill clear PET containers with water and leave them in the sun for at least four hours. The technique is called SODIS, or solar disinfection, as the UV-A rays in sunlight kill germs such as viruses, bacteria and parasites (giardia and cryptosporidia).

“Treat smaller volumes of drinking water using a chemical disinfectant or water purification tablets bought from pharmacies and camping stores. Make sure to follow the instructions exactly.

“Buy water from a water refilling station but be very aware of profiteers who provide an unknown quality of water under illegal conditions in the guise of providing safer drinking water through various bubbling wonder tanks.

“Finally, you can purchase a home filtration system. But not all home filtration systems on the market can deliver on the purity levels promised. Most require the water to already be potable and have low levels of contaminants for it to deliver the promised 99.999% purification. Do your research and do not be tempted by deals that seem too good to be true,” she said.

SANBWA members brands are Aqua Monte, aQuellé, Bené, Bonaqua, Nestlé Pure Life, Dargle Water, Designer Water, Aquabella, Fontein, La Vie De Luc, Thirsti and Valpré. All SANBWA member producers carry the SANBWA logo on their bottles. This acts as a seal of quality.

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SANBWA’s list of tap water alternatives:

1. Boil the water for at least 1 minute (preferably 2 minutes) at a rolling boil to kill all harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses from drinking water.
   
   
2. Use the power of the sun to purify the water. The technique is called SODIS, or solar disinfection, as the UV-A rays in sunlight kill germs such as viruses, bacteria and parasites (giardia and cryptosporidia). Simply fill clear PET containers with water and leave them in the sun for at least four hours. The technique is recommended by the WHO (World Health Organisation). For more information, view ‘Drops of Sun’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CzUx0_Igg0&feature=related).
   
   
3. Treat smaller volumes of drinking water using a chemical disinfectant or water purification tablets bought from pharmacies and camping stores. Make sure to follow the instructions exactly.
   
   
4. Buy water from a water refilling station but only if you have asked to see the outlet’s risk assessment, process flow diagram, chemical and microbiological tests, and water licences. Be very aware of unscrupulous profiteers who provide an unknown quality of water under illegal conditions in the guise of providing safer drinking water through various bubbling wonder tanks. Remember:
   
   • These re-filling outlets are only allowed to re-fill into the container you brought into the store or a new container in front of you, the customer. It is illegal for them to pre-bottle and display or deliver the water.
   • Ask to see their plant and equipment, quality and hygiene testing and licensing documentation. If you go this route, it is also important to ensure you clean your container well in-between refills as the microbiological load will increase during storage.
   • Do not use a container that has been used for other foods or chemicals.
   • Buy a container only for your water, and only use it for water.
   • Because this water is unchlorinated, it is better to purchase (and store) smaller amounts more often than to purchase large amounts less often.
     
     
5. Purchase and use a reputable home filtration system. Reputable brands of home filtration systems on the market are few and far between with many not being able to deliver on the purity levels promised, so do your research but do not be tempted by deals that seem too good to be true. Remember:
   • Be clear about what should and can be achieved by these systems. It will not help you if the one you purchase improves the taste but does not remove the high-risk contaminants.
   • This water should not be bulk filled and/or stored for longer periods of time.
     
     
6. Buy bottled water featuring the SANBWA logo. If the bottle does not feature the logo, it is not bottled by a SANBWA producer who has adhered to stringent health and safety guidelines and legislation. Even worse, the water could be bottled by a fraudster who is using the contaminated source and passing it off as bottled water. SANBWA members brands are Aqua Monte, aQuellé, Bené, Bonaqua, Nestlé Pure Life, Dargle Water, Designer Water, Aquabella, Fontein, La Vie De Luc, Thirsti and Valpré. All SANBWA member producers carry the SANBWA logo on their bottles. This acts as a seal of quality.