Fresh from the mountain springs...<\/p>\n
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Unlike tap water providers, companies involved in the
\nlucrative bottled water business have no difficulty in finding
\ntheir source of water.<\/p>\n
Most of the country's bottled water companies use mountain
\nsprings as their source. However, it could take years to ensure
\nthat a new mountain spring is capable of providing enough water
\nfor mass production.<\/p>\n
An intensive study conducted on mountain springs is required
\nbefore a company decides whether it can be used as a water
\nsource. AQUA, for example, needs two years to evaluate the spring
\nto ensure the consistency of water quality and availability.<\/p>\n
"Research evaluates such aspects as geology, physics, biology
\nand microbiology. The environment is also subject to evaluation
\nto ensure that it has not suffered any negative impact," said PT
\nAQUA Golden Mississippi president director Willy Sidharta.<\/p>\n
PT Equil, the producer of natural mineral water, requires 10
\nyears to study a spring in a recharge area in the protected
\nforest of Cimelati, Sukabumi, West Java. "We have to make sure
\nwhether the water is really free from pathogenic bacteria and it
\nis safe to drink," Irwan Siswandi of Equil said.<\/p>\n
Water sourced from mountain springs is naturally protected
\nagainst contamination from microbes, organic compounds and
\nmolecules, such as pesticides.<\/p>\n
Bottled water production should meet the minimum standard
\nrequirements established by Standards National Indonesia (SNI).
\nIn terms of water resources, springs and artesian wells are both
\nallowable as long as the processed water is in compliance with
\nset standards.<\/p>\n
"Even though bottled water sourced from mountain springs and
\npumped wells is hygienic after it is processed, there's a
\ndifference in terms of freshness. Bottled water from springs is
\nfresher," said a staff member from PT Tangmas, which also uses
\nmountain springs as its source for 2 Tang bottled water.<\/p>\n
The bottled water business began in the 1970s with only
\nseveral companies. To date, over 270 companies are in operation.
\nSales of bottled water reaches 12 billion liters. Bottled water
\nis also exported with foreign exchange earnings of Rp 5.05
\ntrillion (US$561 million) in 2002.<\/p>\n
The increasing demand for bottled water has led to the
\nmushrooming of water refilling stations in the country. The
\nrefilling stations have provided consumers with an alternative to
\nbuying drinking water from stores, and is sold at a cheaper
\nprice. One gallon costs only Rp 2,500 compared to Rp 7,500 for
\none gallon of AQUA water.<\/p>\n
However, what concerns consumers the most is whether the water
\npurchased from the refilling station is hygienic and safe to
\ndrink. Based on tests conducted by the City Health and Laboratory
\nAgency and Sucofindo, water from refilling stations is good.<\/p>\n
"As can be seen from its chemical composition, the water is
\nsourced from mountain springs with a good mineral content," the
\nCity Health and Laboratory Agency's head, Untung Nuriman, told
\nPikNet.<\/p>\n
The process of producing bottled water is not as simple as
\nmost people would think. The water goes through a disinfecting
\nprocess known as ozonization. It also goes through filtering and
\nan ultraviolet process.<\/p>\n
"AQUA water becomes fresher with more oxygen for six hours
\nafter the ozonization process, during which time the ozone
\nmolecules turn into oxygen, or O2," Willy said.<\/p>\n
To ensure that the water is hygienic and safe to drink,
\nregular laboratory tests and control measures are conducted
\nduring each step in the production process. Chemical and physical
\nlaboratory tests are conducted on an hourly basis and a
\nmicrobiological test is done ever seven hours, he added.<\/p>\n
To maximize water quality, AQUA uses the most integrated
\ntechnology throughout the production process from taking it from
\nthe source through to the bottling stage. "We implement an
\nadvanced production system that gives AQUA complete information
\non when each bottle was produced. As well, each AQUA bottling
\nplant keeps a minimum of two samples from each production run for
\nat least two years, even though the expiry date of the product is
\nless than that," he said.<\/p>\n
PT Equil Indonesia, the producer of natural mineral water,
\nalso uses modern technology in producing bottled water.<\/p>\n
"The technology enables the unprocessed water, which is
\ndirectly bottled at the water spring site, to be free from
\ncontamination and that it is safe to drink," said Irwan.<\/p>\n
Equil boasts that it uses bottles with a higher level of
\ndensity. "With this kind of bottle, the water will not have an
\nodor despite it being exposed to the sun," he added.<\/p>\n
He said that bottled natural mineral water is first kept in a
\nquarantine room, or bio-cleaning room, for laboratory testing for
\nfive days. "The sample is tested and released only when it is
\nreally free from pathogenic bacteria," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fresh-from-the-mountain-springs-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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