The following questions help users understand what goes into setting up a packaged drinking water and mineral water plant.
Natural mineral water is water from underground sources that is packaged close to the source and meets the specified quality standards without any processing.
Packaged drinking water uses water from any source which has to be treated and disinfected, a process that could involve filtration, UV or ozone treatment or reverse osmosis (RO) before it is fit for human consumption.
There are mainly 4 sections in a packaged drinking water plant: water treatment, bottling, quality control (lab) and overall utility.
Generally, a standard 2000 LPH packaged drinking water plant needs:
According to market sources, a litre of packaged drinking water is Rs. 10-12 while natural mineral water starts at about Rs 20 a litre and can go up to Rs 125.
According to the International Bottled Water Association, it takes on average an estimated 1.39 litres of water to produce a litre of bottled water.
The following licenses/ approvals are to be obtained for setting up a packaged drinking water plant in India:
Yes, it is compulsory for all the manufacturers who intend to set up processing units, to obtain the ISI mark from the Bureau of India Standards. Packaged Natural Mineral Water is governed under IS:13428 and Packaged Drinking Water governed under IS:14543.
For more details please refer https://www.indiawaterportal.org/FAQ-rules-regulations-standards-concerning-water#ISpackagedwater
No. Unless the official inspection of the plant, tests in an independent lab are carried out and official approval with license number is obtained, the unit cannot commence commercial production.
Yes, such a lab should be equipped to carry out all physical, chemical and micro biological tests prescribed as per IS:3025, and has to be conducted by expert chemists /micro biologists.
Yes. As per a notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs on Feb28, 2001, amending Standards of Weights and Measures [Packaged Commodities] Rules 1977, it is mandatory now for bottled water to be sold only in prescribed standards. These are 100 ml / 150 ml / 200 ml / 250 ml / 300 ml / 330ml [ only in cans ], 500ml / 750 ml / 1 liter / 1.5 liter / 2, 3, 4, 5 liters and thereafter in multiples of 5 liters.
No. Since the ingredients to be utilized in soft drink [sugar and flavor] are likely to contaminate the surroundings and equipment, it is neither advisable nor permissible to operate the same units out of one place.
The plastic material used to contain naturally sourced bottled waters found on supermarket shelves is made of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and is completely safe.
Single-use plastic water bottles are not designed for re-use. In the interest of hygiene and consumer safety, it is not advisable to re-use single-use bottles for storing water. However, they can be reused for other purposes like planters, drip irrigation etc.
Naturally sourced bottled waters have different concentrations of minerals in them, depending on the geology of the land that they come from, which gives each bottled water a unique taste.
For more details on understanding market, investments, profits etc please visit http://mineralwaterprojectinformation.org/.
View an example of a detailed project report for setting up a plant by Small Industries Service.
India Water Portal – Ask a question (Mineral water and Packaged drinking water)
Soumitra Gotikar
Prarthana Vishal
IWP requests users to view the same as a starting point in collating information on understanding and setting up packaged drinking water and mineral water plant and to add more suggestions, information as responses in this thread.
Access here: FAQ on Packaged drinking water and Mineral Water