In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Meaning of Mineral Water 2. Treatment and Handling of Packaged Natural Mineral Water 3. Quality Requirements.
Meaning of Mineral Water:
In the modern society, modern society, packaged mineral water in bottles and glasses has become a high sale item, since it is widely used in all over the world, for drinking purposes, by travellers and in marriage and other parties.
International and national trade in bottled water has increased in modern times both in quantity and diversity, because bottled water serves well as a remedy for water shortage when local water supply systems fail due to natural causes such as earthquake and droughts.
Apart from shortage, the real and perceived needs to improve health also have contributed to an escalating trade in bottled water. It has been recognized that traditional suppliers of drinking water such as tube wells, wells and government run water works may not always be able to guarantee the microbiological, chemical and physical safety of their product as it was possible earlier.
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The contamination of water with microbes is a serious concern to ail consumers, particular the immunocom promised. Protection of natural resources and treatments, such as boiling, pasteurization, distillation, reverse osmosis, filtration and micron filtration are some of the controlled measures which may be used to guard against inactive or remove possible water contaminants. Water filled in sealed containers of various capacities should be safe and suitable for direct consumption without any further treatment.
The production of the packaged natural mineral water in India is guided by the specification given in BIS code IS: 13428: 1998 – Packaged Natural Mineral Water Specifications.
In India, about 20 brands of packaged drinking bottled water, are available, but there are virtually only one or two brands, like ‘Catch’ of natural mineral water, carrying the BIS specifications. All other important brands, do not fulfill the specified standards of the BIS code IS: 13428: 1998. Considering the non-availability of natural mineral waters in India, separate BIS standards for drinking packaged water have been framed under BIS code, IS: 14543: 1998; “Packaged Drinking Water”.
According to BIS code: 13428: 1998, the natural mineral water may be defined as the water which is clearly distinguishable from ordinary drinking water, because:
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(i) It is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources from underground water bearing strata for which all possible precautions should be taken within the protected ponameters to avoid any pollution of, or external influence on, the chemical and physical parameters.
(ii) It is characterized by its content of certain mineral salts and their relative proportions and the presence of trace elements or of other constituents.
(iii) It is collected under conditions which guarantee the original microbiological purity and chemical composition of essential components.
(iv) It is packaged close to the point of emergence of the source with particular hygienic precautions, and
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(v) It is not subjected to any treatment other than those permitted by the BIS standard IS: 13428:1998.
Treatment and Handling of Packaged Natural Mineral Water:
(i) Separation from unstable constituents such as, compounds containing iron, manganese, sulphur, arsenic by decantation and/or Alteration, if necessary, accelerated by previous aeration.
(ii) Naturally available mineral water may be naturally carbonated, non-carbonated or decarbonised or fortified with CO2 from the source.
(iii) Natural mineral water may be disinfected to a level that will not lead to contamination of natural mineral water,
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(iv) The natural mineral water shall be collected, processed, handled, packaged and marketed in accordance with the hygienic practices, specified in the BIS code IS: 13428:1998.
Quality Requirements of Packaged Mineral Waters:
The quality requirements of packaged natural mineral waters are given in Table 16.1, which indicate the physical, chemical, general, toxic substances and microbiological standards:
