Jeddah Closes 50 Water Bottling Plants

Municipal authorities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have shut down more than 50 local water bottling plants for violation of health and safety regulations.

Authorities took the step after three of the 54 samples of water taken from the bottling plants showed the presence of E coli bacteria, reports Arab News.

According to the municipality’s inspection teams, the plants failed to fulfil health and safety requirements.

Jeddah’s mayoral advisor on environment Ahmad Nabeel Abu Khutuwa also warned that bottled water from some of the plants contained an increasing level of bromine.

In some cases bromine concentrations were found to be 10µg per litre, higher than the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization’s recommended level.

The municipality has taken a series of measures to ensure the safety of bottled drinking water distributed by seven large and 182 small bottling plants located in the city.