To protect their health, consumers in the Kingdom should educate themselves about World Health Organization regulations concerning the treatment and distribution of water. This is especially important in this country where tap water is not considered safe and most drinking water comes from bottled water or is delivered through tankers. Water can contain a variety of bacteria (E.coli, Salmonella), viruses (Hepatitis A and E), protozoa and helminths that pose serious health dangers, particularly for the elderly, the sick, pregnant women and children. Millions every year die from such water-borne organisms. Just a few days ago the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) banned the Donya brand of bottled water. The brand is distributed by Wadi Al-Henyia Healthy Water Factory in Al-Kharaj and was found to have high levels of bromine, a chemical used in the treatment of water. The SFDA said it had collected samples of the brand being sold openly and produced on different dates. The SFDA ban came a day after Saudi Gazette ran a revealing report on the dangers lurking in our bottled water. In our report, an expert on water desalination said bottled water can be hazardous if proper shelf temperature is not maintained because of the salt content and the presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate plastic in water bottles. In the European Union and Canada, BPA use is banned in baby bottles. Bisphenol A interacts with water that leads to a change in the taste and color of the water if not properly stored. Water usually becomes polluted because of humidity, darkness and pressure. A Saudi Gazette survey found that many water refilling plants do not change their filters periodically and do not properly maintain their plastic pipe water networks. Almost all water refilling plants here transport bottled water in open trucks instead of using covered vehicles like the ones used for transporting juices. It was also found that Jeddah Mayoralty pays periodic visits to the plants in order to check filters and pipe networks and has fined owners for not changing filters and for having high levels of bromine in their water. Some 50 water refilling stations were shut down in Jeddah alone for violating safety norms, according to a Jeddah Mayoralty report. It is vital that consumers be on their guard. Their lives are at stake. __
