Chemical and microbiological properties of bottled water in Hamedan province

Nowadays, the demand for bottled water is spiked in most countries including in Iran. Monitoring the microbial and chemical quality of bottled water is essential to guarantee the consumers’ health. The present study was aimed to examine the microbial and chemical quality of bottled water distributed in Hamedan province. For this reason during winter and summer of 2012, a total of 56 samples was collected randomly across the province. Analysis were carried out based on standard methods on chemical parameters such as pH, alkalinity, nitrate, sodium, potassium, fluoride, sulfate, phosphate, total hardness, permanent hardness as well as microbial quality of fecal coliform and total coliform. The data was analyzed by SPSS software and compared with Standard Methods of Iran and WHO. No total and fecal coliforms were detected in all samples. pH, alkalinity, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate, sodium and potassium values in all samples were in the range of approved by the Iranian Standards. Among the 56 samples, fluoride concentration in 44 samples was lower than desired maximum standard level and in 40 samples total hardness was lower than approved maximum standard limit. Although in most of the samples the mean value of the parameters were in the approved limit adopted by the Iranian and WHO regulations; however, a significant difference was observed between the measured parameters and their labeling quantity provided by the manufacture. Results revealed no significant difference between the mean value of the measured parameters obtained during winter and summer.