TESTS of bottled water by the Ministry of Health have found that four local brands contain high levels of unsafe microorganisms and chemicals, the state-run New Light of Myanmar reported on August 22.

The brands are Shwe Sabei, Myoma, Crown and pH7, which are sold in 20-litre plastic bottles.

The ministry also warned that action would be taken against anyone who produced bottled drinking water without government permission.

Dr Maung Maung Lay, the chairman of the Myanmar Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Entrepreneurs Association, applauded the ministry’s testing program.

“Purified water should not contain microorganisms that cause bad health. Drinking water can promote good health but it can also be disadvantageous if it is not free from bacteria and other impurities. So the tests are good,” he said.
U Zaw Tin, the general manager of Alpine purified drinking water, also told The Myanmar Times that he welcomed the testing program.

“Purified drinking water is beneficial for public health so I think it is good the Ministry of Health on the lookout for water that does not meet safety standards,” he said.

“It sends a signal that businessmen need to care more about the quality of their products and also shows consumers that they can be confident in the quality of the purified water still on the market,” he said.

U Zaw Tin said low-quality products were usually manufactured by people only interested in making a profit.

“One thing that established drinking water companies can do to combat low-quality products is to produce more water during summer season. Otherwise, if supplies of quality products are low, small businesses will take advantage of the situation and flood the market with inferior products,” he said.