H2O Guru, a SANAS-accredited water testing laboratory serving clients across South Africa, is encouraging water bottlers, refill stations and businesses that sell purified water to book their SANS1657 bottled water testing this October. With spring well under way and summer approaching, demand for bottled and purified water tends to rise, and producers who confirm their water quality now are better placed to supply customers with confidence through the hotter months.
In South Africa, bottled water is a food product category of its own. It is regulated and monitored by the Department of Health, which has set standards of purity and safety for the water bottling industry. That makes regular, accredited testing a practical requirement for anyone bottling or selling drinking water, not an optional extra.
What the SANS1657 package includes
H2O Guru’s Bottled Water (Purified Water) SANS1657 package combines chemistry and microbiology testing in a single analysis, carried out by the company’s accredited laboratory, reference T0647. The chemistry panel covers EC, pH, SAR, Langelier and Ryznar indices, turbidity, colour, TDS, fluoride, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, acidity, alkalinity and bicarbonate. It also measures calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and boron, together with a wide range of metals and trace elements: manganese, iron, copper, zinc, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, aluminium, antimony, arsenic, selenium, mercury and molybdenum.
The microbiology side tests for faecal coliforms, total coliforms, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Together, these results give a bottler a clear view of whether their product meets the parameters set out in the South African National Standard for bottled water.
The package is priced at R3 150 including VAT, payable before results are delivered. Laboratory results and analysis currently take around ten to twelve working days.
Results that can go on the label
One practical benefit of accredited testing is what bottlers can do with the results. H2O Guru provides accredited certification that a business can display to show customers it cares about the quality of the water it sells. The chemical composition of prepared water, as tested, can also be printed on bottle labels, which gives buyers transparent information about what they are drinking.
The company notes that there are three types of bottled water: water bottled from natural sources such as springs, water defined by origin, and treated or prepared water. Each type has to meet hygiene standards, microbiological legislation, treatment labelling standards and chemical regulations. H2O Guru’s website also points bottlers to the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) for further reading on industry standards.
Sampling anywhere in the country
Distance is not a barrier to accredited water testing. H2O Guru offers convenient sampling at the client’s premises by one of its representatives, or collection by courier, with couriers used nationwide. Fees apply for sampling and collection. This allows small bottling operations in rural towns and larger plants in metropolitan areas to use the same accredited laboratory without transporting samples themselves.
The laboratory is specifically designed for drinking water chemistry and microbiological analysis, using automation, sample tracking and current analytical methods and techniques. Its instrumentation is dedicated to drinking water testing and covers both regulated and non-regulated compounds of concern.
For new bottling businesses, the first test also provides a baseline. Comparing later results against that first report makes it easier to see whether source water, treatment equipment or handling practices have changed over time. Established bottlers can use the same approach to check that filtration, disinfection and storage are still performing as expected after a busy season, and to keep a documented record of their quality checks that can be shown to retail customers or inspectors when requested.
More than bottled water
While bottlers are the focus this month, H2O Guru tests a broad range of water sources. Its SANS241 packages cover drinking water chemistry only, microbiology only, or chemistry and microbiology together, measured against the South African National Drinking Water Standard. Further packages cover borehole water, irrigation water, and waste and effluent water. The company recommends that borehole water and other sources used for human consumption be tested at least once a year.
H2O Guru serves households and a wide range of industries, including industrial and manufacturing operations, food and beverage producers, irrigation and agriculture, hospitality, construction and mining. Its services are accredited under various national and local standards, and its SANAS certification and full list of tests and standards are available to download from its website.
Among South African water laboratories, H2O Guru positions its accredited SANS241 testing as its first line of operation, supported by turnkey solutions to help clients treat water into safe drinking water where results show a problem. Its product range includes ScaleStop water conditioners.
The company frames its work in the context of South Africa’s wider water situation, pointing to declining supplies and questionable quality in many areas. Its stated aim is to provide services and products that help people gain and maintain access to safe drinking water, and its slogan, drink pure, live more, sums up that focus.
Why test before summer
Water that looks and tastes good may not necessarily be safe to drink. Harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses cannot be seen with the naked eye, and some chemical contaminants can cause long-term health problems that take years to develop. For a bottling business, a quality issue discovered after product has reached customers is far more costly than one picked up in routine testing.
Booking a test in October means results arrive well before December, leaving time to adjust treatment, update labels or address any issue before the peak season. Bottlers comparing accredited water labs can request a test directly through H2O Guru’s online form, which captures the province and city so that sampling or courier collection can be arranged.
Producers, refill stations and anyone selling bottled water can view the SANS1657 package, the full range of testing options and the SANAS certification at https://h2oguru.co.za/.
About H2O Guru
H2O Guru is a South African water specialist operating a SANAS-accredited laboratory, reference T0647, dedicated to drinking water chemistry and microbiological analysis. The company tests drinking, borehole, bottled, irrigation and waste or effluent water against national standards including SANS241 and SANS1657, with sampling at client premises or courier collection available nationwide. It serves households and industries including manufacturing, food and beverages, agriculture, hospitality, construction and mining, and offers products and turnkey solutions for water treatment.
Media Contact
H2O Guru
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +27 71 564 4665
Website: https://h2oguru.co.za/
