Pure water among nine bottled water declared unsafe for drinking
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s nine leading brands of bottled water are contaminated with chemical and microbiological contamination, according to a report of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), issued on Wednesday.
The researchers have made this comparison of analytical findings within its permissible limits.
According to the report, 118 samples of mineral/bottled water brands have been collected from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Multan, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Tandojam, Quetta and Karachi.
The excessive level of arsenic can cause various types of skin diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases birth defects, black foot diseases and multiple types of cancers etc.
While the three brands including Elayn Plus, Crystal Maya and Aqua Saad were found to be unsafe due to microbiological contamination which may cause Cholera, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Hepatitis, Typhoid etc, the report stated.
Whereas four brands including Pure Water, 3 Star, Douro and Real Plus were found unsafe due to the presence of higher levels of Sodium ranging from 60-115 ppm.
Another brand `Pure It’ was found unsafe due to the presence of higher levels of Fluoride i.e. 1.8 ppm.
The PSQCA bottled water quality standard for sodium is 50 ppm and for fluoride is 0.7 ppm, the report said.
The poor quality of drinking water has forced a large cross-section of citizens to buy bottled water.
As a consequence of this expanding market, a mushroom growth of bottled water industry in the country is witnessed during the last few years.
Zimbabwe: gas, bottled water, medicine and beer in short supply
Harare – As Zimbabwe plunges into its worst economic crisis in a decade, gas lines are snaking for hours, prices are spiking and residents goggle as the new government insists that the country – somehow – has risen to middle-income status.
After ousting the repressive Robert Mugabe almost a year ago following more than three decades in power, and peacefully electing President Emmerson Mnangagwa in July, many hoped the country would emerge from turmoil and return to prosperity.
Instead, it appears to be imploding in the days since the new finance minister announced a "stabilization program."
Over the weekend long lines for fuel reappeared, sometimes stretching for several kilometers.
Anxious residents rushed to stores, where prices skyrocketed for dwindling stock and shop workers began removing price stickers.
People have started joining any line in sight.
The important thing is to get in the queue, there might be something there," said Yvet Mlambo, a resident of the capital, Harare.
Even beer is rationed, to some outrage.
But the new currency shortage has forced most people to use a surrogate currency called bond notes, bank cards and mobile money, all of which are devaluing quickly against the U.S. dollar on the black market.
But Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to one of the new measures, a tax on transactions conducted with mobile money and bank cards.
Hurricane Michael: Do you really need to buy bottled water in NC?
Editor’s note: Because we like to nag, we’re updating this editorial from last month explaining why you don’t need to buy bottled water as part of your hurricane prep if you get municipal water in a city like Charlotte.
So put the bottles back on the grocery shelves, and stay safe and dry as the wind and rain from Hurricane Michael pass through.
Do you really need to buy bottled water when a significant storm approaches Charlotte?
No one covers what is happening in our community better than we do.
And with a digital subscription, you’ll never miss a local story.
Folks sure seem to think so.
Stop.
This, from Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughn: If you are on city water there is no reason to buy bottled water.
Our system is reliable and well prepared.
After all, the city has been providing water since 1899 to Charlotte residents, and now those in Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Davidson, and Cornelius.
New water tests in Houston show presence of cancer-causing chromium 6
HOUSTON – The numbers are in and there’s no denying it: People in Houston are drinking chromium 6.
While chromium 6 can be found in small amounts across the city, the ZIP code testing highest has us returning year after year to 77099.
The EPA only requires our city to test the water for total chromium – not just chromium 6.
Houston City Council member Steve Le represents the district where numbers are elevated in Alief.
Le said.
Since our last report, the city tested the water two more times.
He assured me that he’s working on it and he’s pretty positive that we can get some kind of funding," said Le.
And he’s asked the EPA to come up with a standard for chromium 6 in tap water.
I don’t give them city water," said Akey.
Previously, the City of Houston Public Works Department released this information on chromium 6 to residents.
DES orders CLG to provide bottled water to home
GREENLAND — Officials from the state Department of Environmental Services ordered the Coakley Landfill Group to “immediately provide bottled water” to a homeowner on Breakfast Hill Road whose well tested above a new standard for the suspected carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
DES also ordered the CLG to provide the department with “recommendations for corrective action” within 30 days, according to a copy of a letter sent to Peter Britz, the city of Portsmouth’s environmental planner, who also serves as a staffer to the CLG.
People living near the landfill have been concerned for several years that contaminants leaching from the site will contaminate their drinking water wells, especially since 1,4-dioxane and PFAS chemicals have been found at high levels in monitoring wells at the landfill.
State Rep. Mindi Messmer, D-Rye, who has pushed to have the CLG provide safe municipal water to homes around the landfill, called the DES action “definitely the right move.” “It’s probably unfortunately going to happen with the Breakfast Hill Country Club, because they’ve previously tested above the new standard,” Messmer said Tuesday.
“The problem is when are they going to be ordered to keep their contaminants on their property.” Messmer believes the contamination of the Breakfast Hill well means it’s likely other wells will be contaminated.
“I think they should be compelled to stop the flow of toxins and install a treatment system at the landfill,” Messmer said.
“The city of Portsmouth on Friday upon receipt of the letter provided bottled water to the residents,” Woodland said.
“The CLG will have to consider the most effective remedy (for the home).
Earlier this year, he told the Portsmouth Herald contaminants were not migrating from the landfill to private wells.
“What bothers me about the memo is it went to the City Council and not the general public, not unlike when I blew the whistle a couple of years ago that the city administration knew about the Haven well for almost a week before they told the public,” Splaine said Tuesday evening.
Detroit Takes Steps to Fight School Water Contamination
The Detroit school district will install hydration stations at all its schools after more than half tested positive for high levels of copper and lead in the water.
City officials have blamed old fixtures for the contamination.
Until the installation is completed, bottled water will be provided to affected schools to "ensure there is no lead or copper in all water consumed by students and staff,” Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said.
The school district will replace more than 800 drinking fountains with the hydration stations, which it said is a long-term solution to the problem.
In 2014, the city of Flint switched its water supply to save money.
It failed to ensure that water from the Flint River had been treated with anti-corrosion agents, as required by law.
In all, nearly 100,000 people were affected by the contaminated water.
Federal health officials found that young children in Flint had significantly higher levels of dangerous lead in their blood.
Health officials say elevated exposure to lead can cause health and behavioral problems in children because their developing brains and nervous systems are more sensitive.
Exposure to copper can cause gastrointestinal problems in some children.
Detroit school board approves purchase of hydration stations
DETROIT — About $3 million for water hydration stations and related expenditures was approved Tuesday by Detroit’s school board as the district deals with high levels of lead and copper in some school water fixtures.
Board members also agreed to the continued use of water coolers in all school buildings while the hydration stations are being installed.
The actions of the board followed tests earlier this year that showed elevated levels of lead or copper in 57 schools.
A review of the water testing results found that one school had more than 54 times the allowable amount of lead under federal guidelines, while another exceeded the regulated copper level by nearly 30 times.
The Detroit News reviewed hundreds of pages of water reports for 57 Detroit Public Schools Community District buildings that had elevated levels of lead and/or copper in the water.
Detroit officials believe old fixtures could be to blame for the contamination in schools where water coolers and bottled water are being provided .
Hydration stations "will ensure there is no lead or copper in all water consumed by students and staff," according to Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
The district plans to replace more than 800 drinking fountains with the hydration stations, which it said is a long-term solution to the contamination problem.
They should be installed by the end of next summer, Vitti said.
Principals and school engineers will be trained to monitor the systems and replace filters.
Appalachian student teams up with staff to deliver bottled water for hurricane relief
BOONE, N.C. — A collaboration between Appalachian State University’s Physical Plant, Athletics department and Marching Mountaineers helped sophomore Cameron “Cam” Hunter deliver 500 cases of bottled water to Wallace and Elizabethtown — areas hit hard by Hurricane Florence — in late September.
A third of the water Hunter collected was delivered to a distribution site at a volunteer fire department in Wallace, and the remainder was taken to the Bladen County Disaster Relief Distribution Center in Elizabethtown, said Bob Smith, manager of Appalachian’s Motor Pool and one of the drivers who delivered the water.
“So, he felt like, ‘If she can do that, there’s got to be something I can do.’” For Hunter, a biology major and member of Appalachian’s track and field team from Winston-Salem, the motivation to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence was inspired by a personal connection with such a disaster.
“I had a sister who was in Hurricane Katrina, so I know how hurricanes can affect people,” he said.
When the amount of bottled water donated could no longer fit in Hunter’s dorm room in Bowie Hall — where he is also a resident assistant — Banks found a spot for the water to be stored on the third floor of the Mark E. Ricks Athletics Complex.
Banks, Hunter and a few other students began by bringing down carts and pallets full of cases, and before long, a line of student-athletes who had been exercising in the athletics complex that morning joined the cause and — hauling a case or two of bottled water — made their way to the concourse.
Once the trailer was loaded, Banks, Hunter and the drivers traveled to the Boone Walmart to pick up 84 more cases of bottled water donated by the store, bringing the total to be delivered to 500 cases.
“Both groups were most appreciative for the donation.” About Mountaineer Athletics More than 450 student-athletes compete in 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University, 10 for men and 10 for women.
Appalachian was a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before joining the Sun Belt Conference in July 2014 — one of 10 conferences that are members of the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
About Appalachian State University Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all.
The Latest: Detroit board OKs money for hydration stations
DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on unsafe levels of lead and copper found in drinking fountains and water fixtures in Detroit schools (all times local): 2:05 p.m.
The Detroit Public Schools Community District school board has approved spending of about $3 million on hydration stations and related expenditure following the discovery of high levels of lead and copper in some school water fixtures.
Also Tuesday, board members approved the continued use of water coolers in all school buildings while the hydration stations are being installed.
Tests have shown elevated levels of lead or copper in 57 schools.
Results are pending for 17 more schools.
The 106-school district plans to replace more than 800 drinking fountains with the hydration stations which it says is a long-term solution to the contamination problem.
___ 7:30 a.m. A review of water testing results at Detroit public schools found that one school had more than 54 times the allowable amount of lead under federal guidelines while another exceeded the regulated copper level by nearly 30 times.
The Detroit News reports it reviewed hundreds of pages of water reports for 57 Detroit Public Schools Community District buildings that had elevated levels of lead and/or copper in the water.
Detroit officials believe old fixtures could be to blame for the contamination in schools, where water coolers and bottled water are being provided.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says hydration stations “will ensure there is no lead or copper in all water consumed by students and staff.” Vitti on Tuesday is discussing long-term plans to fix water issues with the district’s board.
20,000 pallets of bottled water left untouched in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico
The stockpile of bottled water stretches down an unused runway in Ceiba.
Case after case, pallet piled upon pallet, blue tarps and plastic glinting in the sun.
The emergency supplies were brought in by FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which smashed the island and left its residents without power, without roofs and without running water.
Federal officials commandeered the area in the far east of the island last fall as a staging ground, collecting the water and containers full of blue tarps to patch damaged and destroyed roofs in surrounding neighborhoods.
And there the supplies sat.
Ottmar Chavez, now administrator of Puerto Rico’s General Services Administration, said FEMA reported that it had about 20,000 pallets of bottled water in excess in May this year, before Chavez was appointed.
His agency claimed the water, intending to deliver it where it was needed.
"In light of this, we have been in contact with FEMA and the Department of Health to test the water inventory received by the federal agency.
We are going to return those waters," he said.
Puerto Rico now says 2,975 people died on the island because of the storm.