Mineral Water is Different from Mineralized Water

Just want to inform you that mineral water is different from mineralized water, whether it is mineral or mineralized water, when talking of shelf life, ozone or equivalent process is needed so that water will be protected from bacteriological contaminants while inside the bottle. The mineral contents have no relation with the shelf life as long as it had undergone the right process.

In mineral water, there are inherent mineral contents in the water, in fact as per DOH and BFAD standards, they set a certain limits on the mineral content of the water in order to be of drinking standard.

Although there are some process that involves the removal of all mineral contents and then it injects potential mineral to the water (mineralization/mineralized water), that makes any difference from mineral water as per shelf life is concern.

When we talk of shelf life, we are referring to the bacteriological contamination that the water might have, while inside the bottle and not the physico-chemical aspects.

As long as the system is right, we are not concern with its physical and chemical properties while inside the bottle, it is always the bacteria aspect.

In fact, even PURIFIED WATER being catered by REFILLING STATION, will not have a good shelf life using ozone or equivalent process.

That is why REFILLING STATION was conceptualized in order to cater the immediate needs of the drinking public.

As per Implementing Rules of the DOH, section 4.4.4 provision J, it states that, “holding time of stored refilled water shall not go beyond 24 hours”

Whether it is purified or mineral water, within the bounds of water refilling station operations, and as per IRR of DOH, shelf-life is non existent.

Just want to tell you that for bottled water operations, BFAD is the one in charge, and they have their own IRR to be observed and followed by bottling plant operators, for WRS, DOH is the one on top with its own IRR.

So why confused yourself on certain issues that are irrelevant to what is being implemented.

First of all you have to identify your status, if you are a WRS operator, then IRR of DOH should be followed. Do not overlap with the IRR of BFAD because it is not applicable to you.

Always remember, whatever is the complexity or simplicity of the system, if it cannot comply with the existing IRR, then you cannot be operational, be it WRS or bottling operations.

What we can give you is just advises and points to ponder, and the end of the day, still the DOH or BFAD shall be the supreme implementor of the Rules and Regulation.

- Orly Shanghai