Determination of Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Distributed in Vientiane Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

Objective: To determine the physical, chemical and microbial quality of bottled water distributed in Vientiane province, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos PDR). Methods: This study was a survey research that collected 41 samples of drinking water from 41 drinking water factories not having food and drug registration from the Department of Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Lao PDR in the year 2019, which was located in 11districts of Vientiane province in Laos PDR. The study used standard field test kits for determining the quality of drinking water consisting of a test kit for E. coli and coliform bacteria. The study measured the hardness of drinking water with a TDS meter, and measured pH with pH meter. Subsequently, the results were compared with the standard criteria on bottled drinking water of the Ministry of Public Health, Lao PDR. Results: 22 samples of drinking water (53.65%) failed the physical criteria on not specifying the date of expiration and failed the chemical criteria with pH less than 6.5. In addition, pH of more than 8.5 was found in 2 samples (4.87 percent). All samples passed the criteria on hardness. Thirty-five samples of drinking water (85.36%) passed the microbial criteria by having coliform bacteria less than 2.2 MPN/100 milliliters, and having no E. coli. Six samples of drinking water (14.63 percent) had coliform bacteria more than the level specified in criteria and contamination with E. coli. Conclusion: Although the drinking water factories had a good water quality processing system by using reverse osmosis method, ultraviolet light and ozone to disinfect, there were still some factories not passing chemical and microbial standards. Therefore, entrepreneurs should be aware of other hygienic conditions, especially in areas of personnel in order to improve drinking water quality leading to the safety of consumers.