'Water from refill outlets not safe'

JAKARTA: Researchers from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) cautioned consumers against buying drinking water from refilling outlets as it could be contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Dr. Suprihatin told a seminar here on Friday that 16 percent of the 120 samples of drinking water from refill outlets in Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi, Tangerang and six other major cities in the country contained a bacteria called poliform, which could cause diarrhea, stomach aches and other health problems.

Most of the samples also had a high concentration of chemicals such as iron, manganite, fluoride and nitrite, she said.

Outlets refilling 23-liter bottles of drinking water can be easily found throughout major cities in the country. While drinking water companies charge consumers about Rp 8,000 a bottle, drinking water refill outlets charge as little as Rp 2,500.

Suprihatin, who headed a team of researchers from the Laboratory of Environment Technology and Management at the institute, said 60 percent of the samples did not meet one of the factors of the national health standard, and 34 percent did not meet the health requirements set by the Ministry of Health.

The team recommended that the government increase its control over the quality of water from refill stations to guarantee consumers' safety. --Antara