Presidency

H. E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.

President of Liberia

H. E. Zegben J. K. Koung

Vice President of Liberia

EPA Brings Mekki’s Mineral Water To Compliance

Technicians unsealing the results of water producers at the ERS Laboratory

 

Technicians from the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) have worked with the management of Mekki’s Mineral Water Company in identifying and correcting the bacterioloical problem associated with its previous water quality report.

The EPA recently announced a control shutdown of seven sachet water companies in Monrovia and its environs.

Technicians from the Environmental Research and Standards (ERS) Laboratory at the EPA analyzed the qualities of seven sachet water brands in the country and realized that six out of the seven mineral water brands tested are unsafe for drinking.

The technicians randomly collected seven sachet water brands from Monrovia and its environs and analyzed them for microbial parameters (Fecal Coliform and Total bacteria count) at the ERS Laboratory.

The lab result established that six of the seven water brands were unsafe for human consumption based on the parameters analyzed.

Sachet water is the major source of drinking water for a majority of Liberia’s urban population simply because it is readily available and cheap compared to the bottled brand.

However, EPA has identified the source of bacteriological contamination at Mekki’s Mineral Water Company and the water producer has dully corrected all faults in its quality control system as recommended by the EPA.

“After implementing the recommendations of the agency, a control run was conducted on the system and bacteriological tests on the finished products were also conducted at three water quality laboratories including the agency’s ERS Laboratory,” the EPA said in a release.

According to the release, the bacteriological assay at all three laboratories showed no trace of bacteria in the finished products, suggesting that Mekki’s Mineral Water is now safe for human consumption relative to the parameters analyzed.

“Mekki’s Mineral Water is now in full compliance with the EPA and is hereby authorized to resume full scale production while maintaining all quality control measures aimed at ensuring that its products remain safe for human consumption,” the release added.

The control run and validation exercise, according to the EPA will be conducted at the remaining six sachet water companies while the bacteriological assay will continue for all sachet water brands across the country.

The EPA reassures the general public of its commitment to ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment for this and succeeding generations