Samples of Grange Park and Mt Kenya bottled water from Buruburu exceeded fluoride levels – over the WHO maximum guidelines of 1.5 ppm for drinking water.
According to Deputy Director, National Quality Control Laboratory Dr Pius Wanjala, excess iron in drinking water (iron overload) can cause damage to body organs like the liver, heart and pancreas.
“Excessive iron in the human body may also cause life-threatening illnesses like liver cirrhosis for those with the genetic disorder – haemachromatosis,” said Dr Shabani.
“Grange Park bottled water and Mt Kenya bottled water sampled from Buruburu had fluoride levels that exceeded the WHO maximum guideline value of 1.5 ppm for drinking water.
Dr Shabani said that bottled water from underground sources, which do not adhere to the right chemical composition increases risk of poor bone health, increased fracture risk and poor teeth.
“Children are more susceptible to fluoride and mild dental fluorosis can occur at drinking-water concentrations of between 0.9 and 1.2 mg/litre.” Besides excess fluoride and iron found in the samples, a sample of Avodale bottled water from Eastleigh was found to be too alkaline, with the pH of the water out of the WHO guideline range of 6.5 to 8.5 for drinking water.
“Avodale bottled water (sampled from Eastleigh) had a pH value out of the WHO guideline of 6.5 to 8.5 for drinking water.
Ms Kimanthi said KEBS tests quality of water against the two standards available on its website stating that WHO standards are “too wide and general”.
In May this year, 158 firms whose water did not comply with the Kenya/EAC standards were found to be operating illegally and suspended by KEBS.
Meanwhile, most Kenyans continue to buy bottled water thinking it is safer than tap water or water they get from water bowsers or boreholes.